The virtues of coffee are legion. It has already been known to swallow a daily espresso reduces the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease - except in cases of excessive tension -, uterine cancer, melanoma and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

According to doctors at the University of Southern California, he would have one more string to his bow: a shield effect against colorectal cancer. Their study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention , compared the lifestyle of 4,000 healthy people and 5,100 colorectal cancer patients for less than 6 months.

The verdict is edifying: there are more afficionados of coffee in the first than in the second. The absorbed dose affects the degree of protection. After adjusting for other known risk factors (family history, physical activity ...), it appears that eating two cups a day reduces the risk by 26%. And that two and a half cups divides it in half!

Caffeine is not the only cause because decaffeinated enthusiasts also benefit from this benefit. The many antioxidant polyphenols in coffee play a role in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells.

Do not overdo it however: no more than 3 cups a day and if possible at a distance from the meals not to hinder the intestinal absorption of iron.