Wednesday, April 4, 2018

COFFEE A CARCINOGEN? Gimme a break!


Coffee in the morning to get me going
Alcohol in the evening to slow me down

Well, I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t. 

As aid in my cancer blogging I subscribe to many news sources, including Google alerts (about ovarian cancer), the NCI and NIH newsletters, Cancer Currents, Lancet – and a whole bunch more.  I also receive (free) the NYTimes Science Newsletter.  It was through the latter that I finally broke down and subscribed to the Times itself (digital version, much limited in content).  That was the straw (log, rather) that finally broke the poor camel’s back.

This is by way of revealing that my Gmail inbox has become so cluttered that entire items, once read, can disappear.  This is what happened with a report on coffee.  I would like to cite it accurately, but you will have to make do with my general impressions.

It seems that some judge in California (where else?) has ruled that coffee must come labeled with a cancer warning.  It appears that coffee-bean roasting produces a chemical known to cause cancer in rats; in what quantity not stated.  Ergo, to be safe – every coffee container must be adorned with a warning.  Are you serious?

First of all, coffee consumption has been shown to be beneficial in the case of prostate cancer.  Secondly, I know of no clinical trial that links moderate – or even heavy – coffee consumption to cancer risk.  Thirdly, I am convinced (on the basis of no evidence) that massive consumption of ANYTHING is bad for your health.  Nuts to you, judge, you can’t scare me!

So they take away red meat, sugar, alcohol, and most everything else that gives life a little kick.  I serve notice that I will not stand for it.  A life sustained by broccoli, cauliflower and celery is not worth living!

And, there, I just finished my nasty, dark cup of Starbucks Frence Roast.



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