A study of about 189,000 UK Biobank participants found lower cancer incidence and mortality among people who regularly drank coffee or tea without added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Regular consumption of unsweetened coffee and tea was associated with lower cancer risk and lower cancer mortality in a large study published in The Journal of Nutrition, adding to research suggesting that beverage choices may play a role in long-term health.
The study analyzed data from approximately 189,000 participants in the UK Biobank, an ongoing health database that includes adults ages 37 to 73. Researchers examined participants’ reported beverage habits and compared them with cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths over an average follow-up period of nine years.
Participants who drank more than two cups of unsweetened coffee each day had a 5% lower risk of developing cancer and an 11% lower risk of dying from cancer compared with people who did not drink coffee, researchers reported.
A similar pattern was seen among people who drank unsweetened tea. Those participants had a 6% lower cancer incidence and a 16% lower cancer mortality rate.
Researchers classified participants as unsweetened coffee or tea drinkers only if they reported never adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to those beverages. Each 8.5-ounce serving counted as one drink. The study also evaluated other beverage categories, including sugar-sweetened drinks, artificially sweetened beverages, fruit juice, milk and milk-based drinks.
The analysis accounted for several factors that could influence cancer risk, including age, sex, smoking status, physical activity and overall diet quality. The authors said the results are observational and do not prove that unsweetened coffee or tea directly prevents cancer.
The study found that the lower cancer risk observed among coffee and tea drinkers did not appear among those who added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Researchers said that distinction may be important because added sweeteners could alter the overall health effects of otherwise beneficial beverages.
Coffee and tea contain natural compounds that may help explain the association. Researchers pointed to chlorogenic acid in coffee and catechins and flavonoids in tea as compounds that may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are involved in cancer development. These antioxidants may help support cellular health, though further controlled studies are needed to confirm the effect.
Added sugars may work in the opposite direction. Sugar in beverages is rapidly absorbed, and researchers noted that it may contribute to inflammatory responses. Prior research has suggested that sugar consumed through drinks may carry greater health risks than sugar consumed in solid foods.
The study also found that sugar-sweetened beverages, including soda and flavored milk, were associated with higher cancer risk, particularly lung cancer. Pure fruit juice showed some protective associations, but researchers cautioned that fruit juice contains concentrated sugar and lacks the fiber found in whole fruit. They recommended whole fruit over juice.
The findings align with broader nutrition guidance encouraging people to limit sugary drinks and reduce added sugar in daily diets. The authors said choosing unsweetened coffee or tea may be a practical step for people seeking healthier beverage options.
The results also build on earlier research linking coffee and tea consumption to lower risks of liver disease and other chronic conditions. Still, researchers emphasized that coffee and tea should be viewed as part of an overall dietary pattern rather than standalone protection against disease.
The study’s main takeaway is that coffee and tea may be most beneficial when consumed without sugar or artificial sweeteners. Further research is needed to determine whether the association reflects direct protective effects from the beverages, healthier overall habits among unsweetened drinkers or a combination of factors.
Source: Natural News
Original article
Comments