A study in Japan links the possibility of drinking coffee to lowering the risks of getting cancer of the mouth or throat.

Proponents from the Tohoku University analyzed the data from a sample population of 38000 that involved people between 40 and 64 years old and who are non-coffee and coffee drinkers with no known history of cancer.

During the 13 year follow-up, 157 cases of mouth, esophagus, and pharynx cancer occurred. The results published on the American Journal of Epidemiology states that those people who drank one or more cups of coffee have a 50% lower risk of incurring cancer. The noted risk reduction included subjects who belonged to the high risk for cancer group like smokers and drinkers.

The researchers did not expect the inverse association of cancer risks with coffee consumption and as well as the effects of coffee drinking to high risk individuals.

The proponents of the study concluded that stopping drinking and smoking is still the best known method to avoid cancer but drinking a cup or two of coffee helps both low and high risk individuals. Past studies attribute the positive effects to coffee contents like caffeine, oils, and antioxidants. Experts primarily point to the interaction of the antioxidants with caffeine producing such anti-carcinogenic effects.

There are also studies pointing to coffee as responsible for lowering the risks for liver cirrhosis, breast cancer, colon cancer, and skin cancer.