Just got done reading Dr. Weiss' Caffeine: Drink (Moderately) to Your Health. So grateful I can continue to enjoy a few cups of coffee during the course of the day.
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By Dr. Marisa Weiss, October 22, 2014, Breastcancer.org, Think Pink / Live Green
When it comes to staying healthy, we hear the words “don’t” and “avoid” a lot. “Avoid alcohol.” “Don’t smoke.” “Don’t eat trans fats.”
More than 50% of American adults drink coffee daily — around 3 cups per day. My day officially starts with my one and only caffeinated drink: a big, strong cup of coffee ...
Caffeine and breast health
Coffee:
Some of the encouraging findings on coffee and breast cancer suggest that coffee raises levels of compounds that reduce the risk of hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer. Drinking moderate to large amounts of coffee also was found to help prevent breast cancer recurrence in people taking tamoxifen. In that study, women who drank a lot of coffee had breast cancer recurrence rates that were less than half the rate of women who drank one or fewer cups daily. Some early research also suggests that coffee drinkers with an abnormal BRCA1 gene have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
Tea:
There are three main types of tea: black, green, and oolong. Each is grown and processed differently. Growers let the leaves dry and absorb oxygen from the air (called oxidation) for different amounts of time. Black tea is fully oxidized, oolong is partially oxidized, and green tea is hardly oxidized at all. The more oxidized your tea, the more caffeine it contains. Black tea has about 70 mg of caffeine per 8-oz. cup (about half the amount in coffee), while the same size cup of green tea has up to 45 mg of caffeine.
All teas contain antioxidants called polyphenols, plant chemicals that have health benefits. Polyphenols help fix cell damage caused by free radicals. (Free radical molecules increase inflammation in the body.) These plant chemicals also affect the color and taste of the tea.
Research suggests that tea polyphenols and tea itself have powerful protective effects against cancer. Besides fighting free radicals, they help keep cells healthy and prevent mutations, abnormal changes in cells that can lead to disease. Certain polyphenols in tea seem to act like vitamin C by stopping harmful reactions in the body.
Tea also contains an amino acid called theanine. Research suggests that theanine may promote anti-cancer mechanisms in the body. The highest levels of theanine are found in black tea and the lowest in green. Theanine also contributes to tea’s soothing effect.
Research results on tea-drinking and breast cancer have been inconsistent. Some studies show benefits, but much research shows no relationship between tea and reduced risk.
Cocoa:
When I say “cocoa,” I’m talking about the ground seeds of the cacao tree. People began using cocoa about 3,000 years ago in the Amazon, where it was a big part of Maya and Aztec culture. Many people, including me, crave chocolate, and we may be on to something!
Besides the methylxanthines caffeine and theobromine, cocoa contains many antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage and may even lower the risk of cancer starting. Compounds in cocoa also have been shown to protect against inflammation and there is also evidence that certain cocoa compounds help reduce the risk of heart disease. Still, this doesn’t mean you should start chugging Swiss Miss. While the research on cocoa seems to have positive health benefits, there’s no clear impact on breast cancer risk. I take this as good news: another wonderfully delicious “vegetable” (it comes from a bean, right?!) for us to enjoy. Still I have to watch the calories, because there is direct proof that extra weight is unhealthy and can increase the risk of breast cancer risk and recurrence.
Are you a coffee, tea, or cocoa drinker?
(Marisa Weiss, M.D. is the founder, president and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org, the world's most trafficked online resource for medically reviewed breast health and breast cancer information, reaching over 8 million visitors per year. A breast cancer oncologist with over twenty years of active practice in the Philadelphia region, Dr. Weiss is regarded as a visionary advocate for her innovative and steadfast approach to informing, empowering, and treating patients with breast cancer.)
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