Study Shows Coffee Can Undo Liver Damage From Alcohol

A few months ago, a study found that regular coffee drinkers have less risk of dying early from several different causes like heart disease, diabetes and suicide amongst others. Now, researchers have found yet another benefit from coffee linked to liver health. By gathering and analyzing data from nine previously conducted studies, with over 430,000 participants, they found that drinking two additional cups of coffee a day was linked to a 44% lower risk of developing liver cirrhosis.

Dr. Oliver Kennedy of Southampton University in the U.K. says the findings are incredibly significant, as cirrhosis can be fatal since there’s no cure per se. Out of the nine studies, eight showed a proportional decrease in cirrhosis risk, as the amount of cups of coffee went up. However, the studies continue to have unanswered questions in terms of types of beans or brewing methods. “Coffee is a complex mixture containing hundreds of chemical compounds, and it is unknown which of these is responsible for protecting the liver,” Dr. Kennedy explained.

It’s important to note that this does not mean “loading up on frothy caramel lattes packed with sugar and topped with whipped cream is a good way to prevent liver disease,” the Doctor warned. Additionally, Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center in New York also said that while coffee has beneficial compounds with antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties, it is unable to undo systematic damage from an unhealthy lifestyle.