I read lots of medical studies every day and write about only a few of them. But I am always drawn to anything that suggests that coffee is actually a health food. This has been my theory for many years and now science seems to be catching up.
Some recent studies have suggested that my favorite morning brew can help ward off Parkinson's disease, dementia and diabetes. Now a new study from researchers at Harvard Medical School indicates that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can reduce a woman's risk of cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
According to the study, which was published last week in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, drinking four cups a day reduced a woman's risk of endometrial cancer by 25 percent compared to drinking less than one cup a day.
Coffee may alter the effects of estrogen and insulin, which could explain the results. But the researchers also point out that the best way to lower the risk of endometrial cancer is to exercise and maintain a healthy weight. And if you do want to try coffee, don't add cream and sugar because that could offset any potential benefits.