Coffee and Skin Cancer - A connection
What if your favorite drink could prevent skin cancer? Well, it may be possible since a new study shows that caffeine aids in destroying human cells damaged by ultraviolet light, a key component in developing skin cancer.
This conclusion was outlined in the February 26th online issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and the development of caffeine creams or topical ointments to turn back the damage from UV light is considered a possibility.
There are two types of skin cancer:
Non melanoma - the most common form of cancer in humans (approximately one million new cases each year in the United States) rarely spread or considered fatal.
Melanoma - extremely malignant, and is one of the deadlier cancers.
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light cause skin cell damage at the DNA level. The cells then mutate and become a non melanoma cancer.
Ok, so far thanks for the medical lesson, now what does this have to do with my fresh cup of coffee? Plenty, it seems. There are studies demonstrating that regular consumption of coffee or tea lowers the occurrence of non melanoma skin cancers. In a recent clinical trial that followed 90,000 Caucasian women discovered that each additional cup of caffeinated coffee consumed resulted in an associated 5 percent decreased risk of developing one of these skin cancers. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee had no effect.
There are additional studies published and the interest centers around caffeine, not just coffee. But this is one more indicator that coffee may have health benefits when consumed in moderation.
So, like we say here at The Coffee Drinker, Have The BEST Cup Ever!
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