Now that's good news!

An article appeared in our local newspaper today that put a big smile on my face. A study by U.S. researchers has shown drinking coffee can reduce the risk of skin cancer. I have to say, I love you guys!!!

I'm a huge coffee drinker (perhaps you've noticed a trend in earlier posts).

My morning doesn't begin until I've had my first sip of coffee and the caffiene hits my blood stream. Before that I'm merely functioning on auto-pilot. I can get dressed, feed the cats, even drive myself to work, but there is no point in talking to me because I am not truly awake.

I don't stop there either, by "coffee time" I'm starting my third and sometimes fourth cup of the day. I often have a cup at lunch and a final cup about mid-afternoon. Infrequently I'll even have a cup or two in the evening at home. I used to drink more but in the past couple of years I've cut back because I've heard all negative stories of the effects of too much caffiene. It can cause a decrease in sleep quality, can be irritating to the stomach lining, often causes frequent urination and loss of vitamins, and is thought to increase stress levels. Maybe, but I rarely miss out on sleep, unless the cats are restless, I have a cast iron stomach, my frequent bathroom breaks are more likely the result of having had children and weak bladder muscles, and though I can get frustrated I rarely feel very stressed.

I've been drinking coffee for nearly 35 years and finally I have some good news. The article even says, "Previous studies have shown coffee drinkers tend to have fewer incidences of breast, uterine, prostate and colon cancers, but the beneficial effects are not seen in people who drink decaffeinated coffee". Now when someone suggests I'm drinking too much coffee I'll tell them I'm preventing cancer. Works for me!