Curtis Swanson, COO at ClearCyte, on coffee and cancer

Coffee is clearly a very popular drink in the United States. In fact, in 2017 alone, around 50 percent of the US population was found to drink espresso, cappuccino, latte, and iced coffee drinks regularly. Furthermore, most Americans drink at least one cup of coffee daily.

These figures are not surprising, as the “kick” gained from coffee consumption has been fueling the average working American for decades.

But in terms of health impact, coffee’s widespread popularity has been paired with an undulating current of scientific research. Today, coffee consumption has been linked to numerous health benefits, generally associated with the antioxidants found in coffee beans. These findings have led to an important question in terms of the beverage’s nutritional potential:

Can coffee reduce your risk of developing cancer?

In short, maybe. The American Cancer Society reports that scientific findings related to coffee and cancer have been mixed over the years. Initial studies linked coffee to an increased risk of cancer, while subsequent studies dulled those conclusions and linked it to a reduction in cancer of the prostate, liver, colon, mouth, and throat.

Several of the latter studies, however, linked such reductions to those who drank four to six cups of coffee daily — a habit which can be marred by excessive caffeine consumption and the potential increase of cream and sugar intake, which can lead to obesity and actually increase your chances of cancer development.
With the aforementioned information in mind, coffee’s direct impact on cancer development is an ongoing development, but for now, it does not appear to be necessarily unhealthy in this regard.

The best rule of thumb is to limit your consumption of sugary, fatty coffee beverages and reducing your caffeine consumption so it is not negatively affecting your daily life. Drinking coffee in this manner will ensure you are reaping any potential cancer reduction benefits while simultaneously eliminating potential risk factors.

About the author

Curtis Swanson is the COO of ClearCyte Diagnostics, a cancer screening company in Bellevue, Washington dedicated to the international marketing of medical screening to a wide range of markets. Additionally, he has experience in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, accounting GAAP & FASB, and business operational management. Throughout his career, Curtis has proven himself as a leader, innovator, and developer.

Learn more about Curtis Swanson here.