Exploring Coffee Consumption: Potential Role in Decreasing Colorectal Cancer Incidences?
Brewing the Lowdown on Colon Cancer and Coffee
Hear this, folks! The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) got the scoop on loads of studies that suggest coffee drinking could lower your risk of developing colorectal and bowel cancer.
One study in the International Journal of Cancer found that guzzling four cups a day can drop your risk by a whopping 32% for colorectal cancer reoccurrence. Quite an interesting revelation, wouldn't you say? This research covered a whopping 1,719 people with stage 1 to 3 colorectal cancer.
Now, how does coffee work its magic? It's believed to:
- Cut down on oxidative stress
- Enhance gut bacteria
- Stifle tumor growth
- Protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
The same study also indicates that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to non-coffee enthusiasts.
But, here's a twist – the type of coffee matters. Caffeinated coffee seems to have a slightly higher risk of rectal cancer, but no link with colon cancer. This hints that our bods might process caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee differently.
So, what can you do to prevent colorectal cancer?
- Get physical – exercise regularly
- Munch on nutritious grub – remember, balanced diets are key
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol – they're no friends of health
Find more info:
- Can coffee cause cancer?- Cancer-fighting foods to reduce cancer risk- Diet and cancer risk: What to know
Some Extra Brew
Recent studies have been examining broader dietary patterns and inflammation in relation to colorectal cancer outcomes. These studies, however, haven't focused much on direct large-scale comparisons between caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee's effects on colorectal cancer risk.
An anti-inflammatory diet, which includes coffee and tea, has been linked to improved overall survival in stage III colon cancer patients according to studies in 2025. Meanwhile, directly comparing the impact of caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee on colorectal cancer risk or outcomes is still a topic that needs more investigating.
For example, a 2025 review from the Annals of Oncology found that higher decaffeinated coffee intake was not associated with a higher cancer risk in general, but the field is still lacking in direct comparison studies for colorectal cancer specifically.
- The World Cancer Research Fund found that four cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer reoccurrence by 32%, according to a study in the International Journal of Cancer.
- Coffee's effect on cancer is believed to lie in its ability to cut down on oxidative stress, enhance gut bacteria, stifle tumor growth, protect against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and potentially improve overall survival in stage III colon cancer patients.
- Interestingly, the type of coffee matters: caffeinated coffee seems to have a slightly higher risk of rectal cancer, but no link with colon cancer, suggesting that our bodies may process caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee differently.
- To prevent colorectal cancer, it's recommended to exercise regularly, munch on nutritious foods, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and investigate more about the effects of caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee on colorectal cancer risk, as these are still topics under investigation in the field of oncology and medical-conditions like cancer, health-and-wellness, and nutrition.
