Coffee may help the liver
There was an interesting article in Indian Express recently and it explained that research projects have indicated that coffee-drinking may aid the liver.
Of course, we are all aware that alcohol consumption (especially in excess) is not good for this body organ, but coffee is a different story.
The study was carried out by looking at almost nineteen thousand Finnish adults, between the ages of 25 and 74.
The participants were questioned about how much coffee and alcohol they consumed and their blood levels were assessed for levels of specific liver enzymes.
What was revealed by these investigations?
It seems that when we drink alcohol, levels of this liver enzyme are boosted and over a period of time, the liver can become diseased.
For instance, men in the study who drank over 24 alcoholic units per week had high levels of this enzyme (roughly three times the rate of non-drinkers).
However, it seems that coffee has a positive effect on those who consume large amounts of alcohol.
Heavy drinking men in the survey, who also drank over five cups of coffee each day, had lower levels of the harmful liver enzyme than non-coffee drinkers.
The difference was significant too 50%. Strangely, however, this was a phenomenon noted in men, not women.
It is suggested that coffee might have protective properties in these cases.
Of course, no-one is suggesting that coffee can negate the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption, but it is certainly worth carrying out further and more detailed research, to see if more information can be gleaned.