Most people see their daily cup of joe as a tasty treat or a much-needed pick-me-up—or both—but coffee has plenty of health benefits, too. It’s been found to support healthy aging and liver health, among many other perks. Now, new research suggests it may lower the risk of death from breast cancer and reduce the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence.
The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, followed 95 women with breast cancer for about 11 years. Researchers analyzed participants’ intake of polyphenols, “which are natural plant compounds found in foods like coffee, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables,” says Nadia Zachariah, M.D., breast surgical oncologist at Baptist Health Cancer Care in South Florida. After crunching the data, the researchers found that the women who consumed the most polyphenols—which they got from coffee more than any other food or drink—were less likely to die from their breast cancer. In fact, they had a roughly 80% lower mortality rate related to the disease, and they were also less likely to see their breast cancer recur.
So, what does this mean for you and your coffee habit? Below, an oncologist and dietitian share their thoughts on the study’s findings.
Meet the Experts: Jennifer Pallan, R.D., B.S.C., dietitian and food scientist at Foodess; and Nadia Zachariah, M.D., breast surgical oncologist at Baptist Health Cancer Care.
How coffee may affect breast cancer mortality
It’s important to note that the study was observational, so it could only find a correlation between coffee consumption and breast cancer mortality; it couldn’t prove the coffee consumption caused the better outcomes. But experts say it’s still worth paying attention to.
Coffee contains “more than 1,000 bioactive compounds, including caffeine, chlorogenic acids, cafestol, and kahweol, some of which have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects,” notes Jennifer Pallan, R.D., B.S.C., a dietitian and food scientist with Foodess.
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Dr. Zachariah agrees. “Coffee is packed with hundreds of plant compounds like chlorogenic acid and other polyphenols that act as antioxidants, which calm inflammation, and may help the body repair damaged DNA,” she says, citing past laboratory studies that suggest compounds found in coffee, such as caffeine, can slow the growth of cancer cells—and even push them toward natural cell death. “The leading theory is that these compounds create a biological environment that is less friendly to cancer.”
How much coffee should you drink?
For most healthy adults, about three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day—which translates to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine—is considered safe. This amount of coffee has even been linked to lower rates of heart disease and death overall, Dr. Zachariah points out.
Of course, some people will have different needs. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, for instance, should limit caffeine to about 200 mg a day. Additionally, people with certain heart rhythm issues, anxiety, sleep problems, or acid reflux should limit their intake. “How you drink it matters, since loading coffee with sugar, syrups, and cream can cancel out any benefit. Black or lightly sweetened is best,” Dr. Zachariah adds.
The bottom line
While coffee has some proven health perks, further research is needed before experts can say anything definitive about how it affects the progression of breast cancer. And in any case, coffee is in no way a substitute for standard cancer treatment, screening, or follow-ups, Dr. Zachariah stresses: “It should be thought of as one supportive piece of a healthy lifestyle, not a cure or a prevention guarantee.”
Additionally, if coffee’s not your thing, you don’t have to worry about missing out on its nutritional benefits; there are plenty of other polyphenol-rich foods out there. “The same beneficial polyphenols are found in tea, whole grains, berries, nuts, seeds, and vegetables,” says Dr. Zachariah.
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