Coffee Lowers, Alcohol Raises Breast Cancer Risk, Studies Show

Two to three cups of coffee a day can reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, while alcohol consumption increases it, according to the results of two recent studies. Citing research by Lund University and Malmo University in Sweden, the Swedish Research Council reported that coffee could retard the release of cancer-causing metabolic products by female sex hormones. What's more, it said, the caffeine in coffee had been shown to hamper the growth of cancer cells. The council noted, however, that it was still too early to make concrete dietary recommendations based on results of the research. The coffee-drinking habits of more than 450 breast cancer patients were examined in the Swedish study, which found t...