Four cups of coffee a day could help keep womb cancer at bay

Research has linked regular consumption with lower odds of endometrial cancer, the most common form of the disease. 

Women who drank four or more cups a day over many years were 25 per cent less likely to develop the disease than those who limited themselves to less than a cup daily.

Both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties seemed to help ward off the disease, although tea had no effect, the 26-year study of almost 70,000 women found.

Drunk regularly, coffee may help lower levels of hormones believed to fuel the cancer, the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention reports. Endometrial cancer affects 6,400 British women a year in the UK and kills an estimated 1,000 annually. 

Risk goes up with age, weight and with having a mother who had the disease.

The researchers, from Harvard School of  Public Health in the U.S., said: ‘Increasing exercise and maintaining normal body weight are probably the most important ways to prevent endometrial cancer.

‘However, additional strategies are needed and dietary habits such as coffee drinking could provide one option.’ They cautioned that  adding cream and sugar to the beverage may cancel out the effects, as may smoking.

A total of 672 cases of the cancer, which affects the lining of the uterus, were reported over  the 26-year span of the study.

Senior researcher Edward Giovannucci said coffee could help against cancers associated with obesity, insulin and oestrogen, and that it had been shown to improve insulin resistance.

He said: ‘Coffee has already been shown to be protective against diabetes due to its effect on insulin, so we hypothesised that we’d see a reduction in some cancers as well.’

Professor Giovannucci added: ‘Laboratory testing has found that coffee has much more antioxidants than most vegetables and fruits.’

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Health Benefits of Dandelion and How to Make Dandelion Coffee

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale is a common herb we often overlook. For many gardeners, dandelion is a "problem weed" ruining their lawn, but for herbalists, dandelions are a rich source of vitamins (including A and C), minerals (iron and calcium), and detox supports.

Dandelion is a great herb for everyday nutrition. You can add to milder salad blends, like red leaf lettuce, or blend with other bitter herbs, like endive and chicory. To add dandelion into your diet, follow these tips:

• Gather the leaves when young, before they have flowered in spring
• Collect from a spray-free area, away from the road, or in your own organic garden
• After flowering, cut the plant back to the top of the roots, and then harvest the new growth
• Harvest or grow dandelions in shade for the least bitter flavor
• The dandelions seen in stores are often Italian dandelions, which are more bitter than the domestic variety

Dandelion’s distinctive taste is refreshing served in sandwiches, with vinaigrette dressing, with meats, cheeses, and pasta, and in tomato sauces. It also makes a flavorful, healthy alternative to coffee.

To make your own dandelion coffee:

• Wash the roots, slice lengthwise in half, and then air dry for several days
• Cut the roots into 1-inch sections and roast on a baking sheet at 375˚F for 2-4 hours
• Turn the roots regularly so they brown evenly

There should be a coffee-like odor coming from the oven by the time they are done. Grind as needed, and use in place of coffee beans.

Fresh-made dandelion coffee makes a great gift, too! So the next time you're invited to a dinner party or need a last-minute-present, package some dandelion coffee in an attractive, air-tight jar and share with friends and family.

What are your favorite ways to eat dandelion? Post your favorite dandelion recipes here! We look forward to tasting your recipes.