Caffeine Plus Exercise Equals Less Cancer

Caffeine doesn’t need a lot of additional promotion. It already has a lot of fans. None the less, new research has discovered that caffeine can help avoid and reduce cancer tumors. No word yet on any extra benefit from frothed milk.

Researchers in New Jersey studied laboratory mice with different levels of exercise and caffeine intake. Mice were divided into four groups. The control group did not receive either caffeine or exercise. A second group received caffeine alone. A third group received caffeine without exercise. The final group received both caffeine and exercise.

The group of mice receiving caffeine without exercise suffered 27% fewer cancerous tumors compared with the control group. When tumors did occur, they were about 60% smaller than tumors in the control group. As an added bonus, these caffeinated mice also lost weight, dropping nearly a third of their fat layer.

The group of mice exercising without caffeine also enjoyed better health. They had 35% fewer tumors than the control group and the tumors that did group were 40% smaller. These hard-working mice had their fat layer drop by nearly two thirds.

The lucky fourth group, receiving both exercise and caffeine, had 62% fewer tumors. The few tumors that did grow were 85% smaller.

Obviously, lab mice and people are not identical. Dr. Yao-Pin Lu, the leader of this research effort did say however, “I believe we may extrapolate these findings to humans.”  His working theory is that exercise and caffeine both act to reduce inflammation and this has a powerful effect on the occurrence and growth of cancerous tumors.

So, the next time you want to something good for your body, find a Starbucks location a few miles from your home. Run over to it, drink a venti cappuccino and run home again. It could be the healthiest thing you do all day!