Americans thrive and survive on coffee both financially and physically, according to one study. The Harvard School of Public Health has found that people who consume coffee have a lower chance of getting skin cancer, but this may be a skewed study and other factors need to be considered.

The research followed 72,921 people between 1984 and 2008, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, which followed 39,976 people between 1986 and 2008, found 25,480 skin cancer cases. Basal cell carcinomas represented 22,786 of the cases, squamous cell carcinomas 1,953 and melanomas 741.  

Now before we get caught up in the medical jargon let me break it down for you.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) accounts for 75 percent skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. BCC is especially common among middle-aged or older people with light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, or blonde or red hair.

Women who drank more than three cups of coffee had a 20 percent reduction in risk for basal cell carcinoma. Men who drank that much coffee had a 9 percent reduction in risk of the slow-growing cancer. People who drank the most coffee had the lowest risk.

The likelihood of a middle-aged or older person getting skin cancer is increased because throughout their life they likely had greater sun exposure.

The probability of a person who drinks coffee can imply that he/she is spending a lot of time indoors, perhaps in an office or workplace. A person who spends a great deal of time indoors can already reduce the risk of BCC. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that one who spends time indoors is less likely to be outside basking in the sun.

Another factor that could change the dynamic of this study is to look at where the participants live. If they live in Los Angeles versus Chicago the likelihood increase given the weather that the region provides. The onset and development is well understood and is most likely multifactorial in nature.

This statistical study in no way comes close to eliminating all other factors and identifying coffee as playing any sort of profound role. All of these questionable factors make this study potentially meaningless.

 

Reach Reporter Candice here.