A Jog and a Joe for Skin Cancer Protection?
A newly released study has proposed a combined benefit of exercise and caffeine consumption in the prevention of skin cancer.
A combination of exercise and some caffeine -- equivalent to one or two cups of coffee a day -- protected against the effects of the sun's ultraviolet-B radiation, which can lead to cancer.
It should be noted that this study was done on mice. It is also worth noting that the difference in protection between the groups was quite substantial.
Compared with the UVB-exposed control animals, the caffeine drinkers showed an increase of about 95 per cent in UVB-induced apoptosis, the exercisers showed a 120 per cent increase, and the mice that were both drinking and exercising showed an increase of nearly 400 per cent.
Other studies have shown exercise alone to lower the risk of melanoma-based skin cancers, colon cancer, breast cancer and advanced prostate cancer and coffee to lower the risk of some skin cancers, liver cancer and breast cancer. Green and black tea consumption has also been shown to help but only versions with caffeine.
It is no secret that exercise is a front-line defense for many diseases, but should we be adding caffeinated beverages to our cancer-fighting arsenal? Is this another nail in the coffee-is-bad-for-you-coffin?
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I think I'll just continue to wear sunscreen when I exercise and skip the coffee. Yuck ... and such a drug!
ReplyThat's my morning ritual! This morning: two espresso and a tempo run...
I'm still fretting about your "How much coffee should you drink?" article and the results of the ATTICA study, and I'm comforted by the reports of the antioxidant properties and cancer-fighting properties of coffee, but it all seems academic while I'm drinking my espresso.
ReplyEverything in moderation, right?
ReplyThis was great news for me--I always down a big mug of coffee before my morning cardio. I still wear sunscreen, but I like to be outdoors a lot, so any additional protective boost I can get is great.
Coffee + exercise + Ipod + sunshine = great morning rush.
ReplyPlease, Ann - we coffee addicts err...connoisseurs prefer that people refer to it as a psychoactive stimulant!
ReplySo cell apoptosis is correlated with metabolic rate? Is that what this study has ACTUALLY shown?
Why they have to encourage coffee consumption, I don't understand. There's better ways to increase one's metabolism, such as exercise, more frequent meals, carrying more muscle mass, saunas/cold showers, loofah, hot or spicy foods/cold drinking water, etc.
Some are more effective than others, but you get the idea. Caffeine consumption is unhealthy in comparison. It causes a quick release of glucose in the body that leads to insulin resistance. So if you're working toward body composition goals, caffeine is not something you want as a part of your life.
ReplyMurine studies need to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, it stands to reason that sufficient intake of a range of antioxidants are important for preventing many health problems.
ReplyQuito and Dr. J-Yup, that's my morning ritual too...a nice 8 miler and a cup of coffee always wakes me up and gets me going. Good to know it also prevents skin cancer, too. Of course, being a blonde and having fair skin, I'll still use the topical sunscreen too.
ReplyHi Kailash,
I'm not sure if the study is attributing the results to a metabolic factor.
I agree that there are much better ways to boost metabolism such as the great list you mentioned(although caffeine is also a proven thermogenic enhancer).
Regarding the insulin resistance, the literature I've read suggests that caffeine consumption may hamper blood sugar control, but they studied those who already had type II diabetes and used high doses of caffeine. Overall, I think for people who are not pregnant, lactating, insomniacs, overly jittery or experiencing GI distress - moderate sonsumption of coffee is nothing to worry about.
ReplyI'll keep drinking my tea, keep jogging, and keep putting on my broad-spectrum SPF 50.
ReplyI don't drink coffee at all, but the reason coffee is bad for people is all the extras such as the cream, sugar and other sweetners they put in them.
As for the study I would say moderation of coffee is probably the way to go.
ReplyI do think coffee does have disease prevention benefits, but to how often do people just have black coffee. The other stuff people put in is what will be bad for you.
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