CHI - Mercy Medical Centerville

healthbeat Keeping You Up to Date on the Latest Health News GROUNDS FOR COFFEE CONSUMPTION Coee has long been viewed by many as having negative eects on health. However, researchers have found that java may oer health benets beyond simply warming or perking us up. A recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention suggests that consuming three to four cups of coee a day may decrease a woman's risk for developing endometrial cancer — the most common type of uterine cancer and the United States' most common cancer of the female reproductive organs — by up to 19 percent. Furthermore, a recent study conducted by researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that drinking four or more cups of coee a day may lower the risk of the recurrence of colon cancer by 42 percent. Past studies have also linked coee consumption to lowered risks for Type 2 diabetes, heart failure and other health problems. EASY ON THE EYES You may have heard that carrots are good for your eyes. That's not just a myth, according to a recent Harvard School of Public Health study. The research indicates that carotenoids — responsible for the red and orange coloring of carrots and sweet potatoes, as well as the deep greens seen in spinach, broccoli and kale — may help men and women avoid age- related vision ailments, including macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of vision loss associated with older age. THE SPICE OF LIFE Spices do more than enhance the avor of food — they can actually benet your health. Past studies have indicated that an increased consumption of spices may help prevent cancer. Now, a 2015 study published in The BMJ medical journal suggests a relationship between the amount of spicy food consumed and the length of one's life. The study found a nearly 15 percent decreased risk of premature death in people who consumed spicy foods six to seven times a week. MERCY MEDICAL CENTERCENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 2

• Cover