Coffee does the Body Good

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology recently published findings supporting the claim that caffeine may help reduce risks of skin cancer. An article by HealthDay explains that caffeine is able to target cells damaged by UV rays by interrupting a protein called ATR-Chk1 causing the cell to self-destruct. Caffeine does not have an effect on undamaged cells.

But, Nghiem added, people shouldn't increase the amount of coffee or tea they drink to prevent skin cancer. "You are talking a lot of cups for a lot of years for a relatively small effect," he said. "But if you like it, it's another reason to drink it."

Scientists are currently looking to see if a topical caffeine based product would have the same reaction.

All I know is this just shows that it was for our medical benefit that we went on morning coffee runs when I worked at the Beach Club. Those 32 ounce iced coffees were just as important as the 30 spf sunblock that I regularly bathed my arms and face in. I feel like I should send this article around to the coffee places back home, help out business and all. It is a beach town and this would show that maybe we do care about the well being of our tourists :P