Boffins at Queen’s University Belfast have found that coffee drinkers are at a lower risk of developing the most common type of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). In a paper published in the British Journal of Cancer, the research team concluded that:
We found some evidence that coffee consumption was inversely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma which was similar by coffee type.
The study had almost half a million participants that were tested over a period of seven and a half years, and after taking into account other factors such as alcohol consumption, whether or not they smoke (or had previously), whether they had high cholesterol or other chronic conditions, the team concluded that coffee drinks were 50% less likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma.
Good news for coffee drinkers, but let’s not be complacent about studies like this. Enjoying a cuppa every now and again is never going to be a replacement for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Sorry!