Coffee can slash cancer risk

London: Four to six cups of coffee a day can lower risk of womb cancer for women, while men who drink this amount are less likely to develop prostate cancer, according to a new Harvard study.      Researchers using 117,000 volunteers found that the beneficial effects of coffee were seen regardless of whether they drank regular or decaffeinated coffee, suggesting the effects are not linked to caffeine.      The team from Harvard University looked at the drinking habits of 67,000 women whose health had been tracked for more than 20 years, the Daily Mail reported.      The study found that those who drank four or more cups a day reduced their risk of endometrial cancer by 25%, compared with those who drank less than one cup a day.      A similar effect was found for decaffeinated coffee, but tea consumption had no impact.      The researchers then looked at coffee intake among a group of 50,000 men over a 20-year period.      The results showed that those who drank six or more cups had an 18% lower risk of suffering prostate cancer and a 60% lower risk of developing its most deadly form.      One theory is that coffee may have a beneficial effect on insulin levels. Previous research has linked insulin levels with tumour growth, and coffee may help to limit this effect. The drink can improve glucose processing and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. PTI HOT REMEDY