Cheers to That!

A new review published in The BMJ found coffee consumption might reduce risk of various cancers, liver, neurologic, and metabolic conditions. 

Data from 201 meta-analyses of observational research with 67 health outcomes and 17 meta-analyses of interventional research with 9 health outcomes were studied. Overall coffee consumption was associated with benefit rather than harm, with the largest reduction of risk coming from consumption of 3-4 cups per day compared to zero coffee consumption. This included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular mortality. High consumption was also correlated with lower risk of several cancers, liver conditions, metabolic conditions, and neurologic conditions.

The only exception was during pregnancy where high coffee intake was associated with low birth weight, preterm babies, and pregnancy loss.    Outside of pregnancy evidence suggests up to four cups of coffee per day might reduce risk without causing harm. Let’s cheers to that!