Can COFFEE cause CANCER?

Part 6

(Foreword: This is the continuation of our reply to Benjie of Catalunan Pequeno regarding his anxiety over some bad news about coffee.)

Dear Benjie of Catalunan Pequeno,

A lot of people may be apprehensive and anxious over coffee’s reported cancer risk. But, its benefits truly outweigh its reported adverse effects.

The truth is, coffee does not appear to raise the odds of having cancer. Yes, there are acrylamides, in it - in which in high amounts have caused cancer in laboratory animals. But, you have to remember that those animals received much higher doses than humans get from food, which, of course, includes coffee.

The glaring truth is, there are plenty of foods out there which have more acrylamides than coffee. If you really want to cut off from acrylamides in your diet, then, shy away from cookies and fried foods and chips. Moreover, the evidence does not seem to suggest that acrylamides in the diet can really increase the risk of cancer. As a matter of fact, in human studies looking at acrylamide, none had indicated an increased risk of cancer.

I think that you should worry less about coffee, but, more on what you put or add to it. I know that those cream and sugar are yummy. But, they are laden with so many calories. And if you do this, whatever good stuff is in there that coffee offers, you may cancel them out.

Cream and sugar may not directly interfere with the effects. But, the problem is, they contradict the effects. So, if you are trying to decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes, you shouldn’t add something like sugar that can increase your risk at the same time. So, take your coffee without sugar and cream. Non-fat milk or skimmed milk will do the job if you can’t take the taste of black coffee without nothing in it.

So, Benjie, if you are drinking some moderate amount of coffee now, I don’t see any reason that you have to stop this. But, if you are one of those who are not drinking coffee, don’t start the habit. Now, if you try it, and you love it, who am I to tell you to stop it. But, always remember, do everything in moderation. That is the only key.

Good luck! Dr. Fritz (Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15-year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni, Dr. Fritz.” She is also a faculty in a College of Pharmacy. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., EbroPelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we can not answer them. Thank you for

your understanding.)