Recent Study: How Coffee Drinking May Fight Off Prostate Cancer
Registered Dietician
| 3 min read
That’s right, men: top off that cup of java because it really is good for you.
The study by the Harvard School of Public Health indicates that drinking coffee reduces the risk of prostate cancer amongst men. And the more coffee you drink–the better. Believe it or not, it isn’t the caffeine that is beneficial, it’s the antioxidants found in leaded or unleaded coffee.
The research study results illustrated that:
- there is a 60% lower risk in the most fatal form of prostate cancer with 6 cups of coffee per day
- one to three cups of coffee per day cuts the risk of prostate cancer by 30%
This study was conducted over 12 years with over 48,000 men, and was quite extensive. Also, June is National Men’s Health Month, so this is a great time to think about this study.
More Than Just a Hot Drink
Coffee does not stop at reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men. Coffee also helps regulate insulin and reduce inflammation. It has also been proven that coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of acquiring other diseases such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Liver cancer
Facts About Your Favorite Coffee Extras
The problem with coffee is all of the things that people add to it for flavor. These extras increase calories and fat, which can cause weight gain. This is seen especially at specialty coffee shops. Here are some examples of high calorie coffee drinks at your favorite coffee spots:
Starbucks
- Caramel Macchiato-grande (16oz) with whole milk and whipped cream: 270 calories, 10 grams of fat
- White Chocolate Mocha-grande(16oz) with whole milk and whipped cream: 500 calories, 22 grams of fat
Caribou Coffee
- Caramel High Rise-medium (160z) with 2% milk and whipped cream: 485 calories, 18 grams of fat
- Turtle Mocha-medium (16oz) with 2% milk and whipped cream: 403 calories, 31 grams of fat
Tim Horton’s
- Mocha Iced Cappucino-medium(16oz): 410 calories, 7 grams of fat
McDonald’s
- Caramel Latte-medium(16 oz): 280 calories, 8 grams of fat
- Iced Mocha-medium(16oz): 330 calories, 12 grams of fat
Also, check out these facts:
- French vanilla coffee creamer 2 tablespoons: 70 calories, 3 grams of fat
- Half and Half 2 tablespoons: 40 calories, 3.5 grams of fat
- Whole milk 2 tablespoons: 18 calories, 1 gram of fat
- Sugar packet: 11 calories, 0 fat, 3 grams of carbohydrates
Be smart. Drink coffee. Be aware of what you are ordering in regards to specialty coffees, too. Maybe try it black without any add-ins. Cheers for better health! Be sure to pour a cup of coffee for the man you love in celebration of Men’s Health Month.
Check out these blogs if you enjoyed this one:
Photo Credit: pengrin
