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Most people see their daily cup of joe as a tasty treat or a much-needed pick-me-up\u2014or both\u2014but coffee has plenty of health benefits, too. It\u2019s been found to support healthy aging<\/a> and liver health<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition<\/a>, followed 95 women with breast cancer for about 11 years. Researchers analyzed participants\u2019 intake of polyphenols, \u201cwhich are natural plant compounds found in foods like coffee, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables,\u201d says Nadia Zachariah, M.D.<\/a>, 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\u2014which they got from coffee more than any other food or drink\u2014were 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.<\/p>\n So, what does this mean for you and your coffee habit? Below, an oncologist and dietitian share their thoughts on the study\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n Meet the Experts: <\/strong>Jennifer Pallan, R.D., B.S.C.<\/a>, dietitian and food scientist at Foodess; and Nadia Zachariah, M.D.<\/a>, breast surgical oncologist at Baptist Health Cancer Care.<\/p>\n How coffee may affect breast cancer mortality<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that the study was observational, so it could only find a correlation between coffee consumption and breast cancer mortality; it couldn\u2019t prove the coffee consumption caused the better outcomes. But experts say it\u2019s still worth paying attention to.<\/p>\n Coffee contains \u201cmore than 1,000 bioactive compounds, including caffeine, chlorogenic acids, cafestol, and kahweol, some of which have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects,\u201d notes Jennifer Pallan, R.D., B.S.C.<\/a>, a dietitian and food scientist with Foodess.<\/p>\n Add Prevention as a preferred source in your Google search results.<\/p>\n Use your Google account to add this to your settings.<\/p>\n Add to Google settings<\/p>\n Dr. Zachariah agrees. \u201cCoffee 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,\u201d she says, citing past laboratory studies that suggest compounds found in coffee, such as caffeine<\/a>, can slow the growth of cancer cells\u2014and even push them toward natural cell death. \u201cThe leading theory is that these compounds create a biological environment that is less friendly to cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n How much coffee should you drink?<\/p>\n![\"Google\"](\"https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/google.1467f37.svg\")
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