Researchers analyzing 9 studies with more than 430,000 people found a link between drinking two cups of coffee a day and a 44 percent lowered risk of liver cirrhosis. And in 8 of the 9 studies, four cups of coffee a day was linked to a 65 percent lowered risk.
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and happens whenever the liver tries to repair itself once it’s been injured. It’s caused by several conditions and diseases like hepatitis, fatty liver disease and chronic alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, cirrhosis is responsible for over 1 million deaths each year.
The study didn’t look into that connection but it could be linked to coffee’s antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory properties. I don’t recommend anyone drink 4 cups coffee a day as that’s way too much caffeine. To prevent cirrhosis here are my prescriptions:
Partha’s RX:
1. Reduce your hepatitis risk by getting vaccinated for hepatitis B. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C but you can lower your risk by practicing safe sex and not sharing needles.
2. Stick to eating a healthy diet. Fatty and fried foods can lead to fatty buildup in your liver.
3. Avoid obesity and maintain a healthy weight. Your liver can be damaged by too much body fat.
4. Limit your alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Too much alcohol can swell your liver and lead to cirrhosis over time.
If you’ve been a heavy drinker or drug user – it’s not going to fix that kind of damage done from years of bad lifestyle choices. Rarely can you reverse cirrhosis liver damage. If you’re diagnosed early enough, you can stop more damage from happening.
And drinking two cups of coffee a day could lead to less liver damage, but I would recommend watching the amount of sugar and cream you add. Otherwise you might wipe out the potential health benefits and open another door to cardiovascular problems.
