Harvard University has finally revealed the relationship between coffee and health—regret not knowing earlier!

Coffee has become an essential drink for many people to stay alert and energized. For modern professionals, it can be said that their weekday energy comes from coffee. Whether it's for staying awake or simply enjoying the warmth of a mug in hand, coffee has moved from being a niche drink to becoming a part of most people's lives, embedding itself into modern lifestyles. 

But what you might not know is that coffee has another remarkable benefit, recently revealed by Harvard University scientists...

Multiple studies, including those from Harvard University and other research institutions, have shown that coffee has numerous benefits. It can reduce the risk of various cancers, inhibit tumor growth, lower the risk of all-cause mortality, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, lower cardiovascular disease risks, help the body lose weight effectively, and reduce the risk of gallstones, among other benefits.

The wide range of benefits from coffee is closely related to the hundreds of little-known compounds found in coffee beans. For example, coffee contains caffeine, which is a rich source of antioxidants and bioactive compounds.

Drinking coffee can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and liver cancer.

The world-renowned Harvard University once revealed the health benefits of coffee—drinking coffee may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 15%, and drinking two cups of coffee a day can reduce the likelihood of developing liver cancer by 43%.

At the same time, a study reported by Professor Stephanie L. Schmit and others from the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Southern California in *Cancer Biomarkers and Prevention* has deepened our love for coffee—coffee can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 26%.

This research is a population-based molecular epidemiology study on colorectal cancer conducted in northern Israel. The researchers developed a validated, semi-quantitative coffee intake frequency questionnaire for 5,145 colorectal cancer patients and 4,097 healthy individuals with no history of colorectal cancer.

The data revealed that after adjusting for known risk factors, moderate coffee consumption (1 to 2 cups per day) can lower the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 26%. Additionally, as coffee consumption increases, the risk of developing colorectal cancer decreases gradually, a trend that is evident for both colon and rectal cancers.

Additionally, researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute published a study in the *Journal of Clinical Oncology* stating that regular coffee consumption can significantly reduce tumor recurrence and improve survival rates for stage III colon cancer patients.

This study followed the dietary patterns of 953 colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy over a six-month period. They found that patients who consumed four or more cups of coffee per day (with a caffeine content of about 460 milligrams) had a 42% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to those who did not drink coffee. During the follow-up period, patients who regularly drank four or more cups of coffee had a 33% lower risk of dying from cancer or any other cause compared to non-coffee drinkers.

Further analysis indicated that the reduced cancer risk was attributed to the caffeine absorbed by the patients, rather than the quantity of other components in coffee.

The effects of insulin may potentially be replaced by coffee in the future.

Diabetes is currently the most prevalent disease worldwide, with over 380 million diabetes patients globally. Each year, nearly 80,000 people die from heart disease and other complications related to diabetes.

For patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, injecting insulin is an essential part of their daily lives. However, while insulin injections are an effective treatment method, they are not perfect. Daily insulin injections are not only cumbersome but also easy to forget.

Research teams have found that a type of kidney cell can produce insulin when it detects caffeine in the bloodstream. Subsequently, they conducted experiments on ten diabetic mice, and when the mice consumed coffee, their ability to control blood glucose levels was better than that of normal mice!

The research team stated that similar kidney cells exist in the human body, and the specific mechanism for insulin production still needs further investigation. 

In fact, these experimental results are not unfounded. A study conducted by Harvard University involving 126,000 participants showed that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

This research has brought hope to many diabetes patients; perhaps in the future, diabetes patients will simply be able to enjoy a cup of coffee to stimulate insulin production, eliminating the need for additional injections!

**Coffee Can Inhibit Breast Cancer Growth**

Researchers at Lund University’s Skåne University Hospital in the UK published findings in *Clinical Cancer Research*, indicating that for women diagnosed with breast cancer who are undergoing treatment with tamoxifen, drinking coffee can inhibit tumor growth and reduce the risk of recurrence. 

The study focused on 1,090 patients in Sweden diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer, primarily assessing the relationship between two substances typically found in Swedish coffee—caffeine and caffeic acid—and tumor characteristics and disease-free survival. 

The results showed that among at least 500 women receiving tamoxifen treatment, those who drank at least two cups of coffee per day had a breast cancer recurrence risk that was half that of women who drank two cups or fewer, or did not drink coffee at all. Additionally, these women had smaller tumors and a lower incidence of hormone-dependent tumors.

Researchers believe that caffeine and caffeic acid can lead to impeded cell cycle progression and enhanced cell death, thereby strengthening the effects of tamoxifen treatment.

Coffee is indeed healthy, but the premise is not to add sugar.

It is important to note that not all coffee is healthy; the coffee referred to in this article is plain black coffee without any additives.

Currently, many instant coffees or flavored coffees on the market contain significant amounts of white sugar and non-dairy creamers, making them unhealthy options. Additionally, those "caffeinated beverages" topped with heaps of whipped cream and overly sweetened (including milk tea) not only have excessive calories but can also cause various health issues due to their high sugar content, so it’s best to consume them sparingly.

If you find black coffee too bitter, you can add a little milk or milk powder.

It’s also worth mentioning that while there is currently no prohibition on pregnant women drinking coffee, and the recommended daily caffeine intake is no more than 200 milligrams, the research on this topic remains inconclusive. Therefore, it’s safer to minimize coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Summary

During cancer treatment, both doctors and patients continuously monitor disease progression and actively seek effective strategies to extend survival. Increasingly, case studies indicate that, in addition to traditional methods like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, combining immunotherapy can help restore bodily functions, reduce recurrence, and prevent metastasis.

Of course, scientific and rational dietary therapy can effectively alleviate symptoms, enhance physical condition, lower the incidence of cachexia, extend survival, and even promote cancer recovery.

In addition to receiving treatment, cancer patients should also enhance their understanding of treatment and rehabilitation through educational resources, maintain open communication with their doctors, and find a practical recovery path that suits them. With the help of dietary adjustments and cellular enhancement methods, they can work towards returning to a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible!