The Truth about Your Morning Coffee

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Many people don’t officially start their day until they get a cup of coffee.

That is especially true for Latinos.

coffeeWhen it comes to coffee—hot, iced, black, or with cream and sugar—Latinos drink it more than any other racial/ethnic group, according to the National Coffee Association.

A new study found that coffee does more than give you a morning boost.

Coffee vs. Liver Cancer

People who drank one cup of coffee every day had a 20% lower risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, than those who drink no coffee, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Open.

Study researchers say that increasing consumption of coffee may help prevent HCC, even in cases of pre-existing liver disease.

Cancer is already the leading cause of death for Latinos, accounting for 22% of deaths.

Liver cancer is responsible for 3% of all Latino cancer-related deaths, as well.

Latino men and women are twice as likely to suffer from chronic liver disease compared to non-Hispanic whites, according to the Office of Minority Health. Latino men are 1.7 times more likely to die from liver disease than white men, and Latinas are 1.8 times more likely to die from the condition compared to white women.

For coffee drinkers, the researchers found that the risk of liver cancer diminished with each cup of coffee they drank.

Those who drank five or more cups of coffee a day saw their risk of liver cancer cut in half!

What Else Can Coffee Do?

Coffee itself hasn’t been linked to causing cancer, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirms, but drinking it at temperatures above 150-160 Fahrenheit (as is typical in Latino culture) may be harmful.

Still, emerging research shows coffee has more health benefits than risks.

In addition to its liver-cancer benefits, studies show coffee may protect against Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Coffee also appears to improve cognitive function and decrease the risk of depression.

Coffee has other effects on other cancer types.

Drinking “a few” cups of coffee a day can help colon cancer patients recover faster and reduce their risks of dying from the disease, according to the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, NBC News reports.

“Although coffee may have fewer risks compared with benefits, keep in mind that other beverages, such as milk and some fruit juices, contain nutrients that coffee doesn’t,” wrote Dr. Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic. “Also, adding cream and sugar to your coffee adds fat and calories — up to hundreds of calories in some cases.”

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By The Numbers By The Numbers

1

Supermarket

for every Latino neighborhood, compared to 3 for every non-Latino neighborhood

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