Caffeine

A morning cup of coffee may protect you from skin cancer, a new study suggests. The study found that caffeine kills cells damaged by ultraviolet light. Damaged cells trigger skin cancer. A study of more than 90,000 Caucasian women found that for each cup of coffee consumed, the risk of developing some skin cancers decreased 5%.

Exposure to UV light is a primary cause of skin cancer. Cells damaged by UV rays can mutate or become cancerous. The caffeine interrupts the production of a protein that keeps damaged cells alive and thriving. By suppressing this protein, the damaged or pre-cancerous cells self-destruct.

Adding caffeine more than doubles the number of cells that die off. The findings may be used to develop topical treatments with caffeine to prevent or halt some skin cancers.