What Happens To Your Liver When You Drink Coffee

According to research, drinking coffee may have hepatoprotective properties.

When it comes to the benefits of drinking coffee, you probably don't need much convincing. It's not only delicious, but it can give you a needed energy boost in the morning or during a sleepy afternoon, and it's even been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. What some people may not realise is that coffee can also help with liver health.

Coffee has been shown in studies to have a hepatoprotective effect, which means it can help protect your liver from damage. This is in contrast to alcohol, which can cause hepatotoxicity (liver damage) if consumed in excess.

While coffee has been shown to have significant benefits for liver health, it's important to note that many of the studies cited in this article are based on drinking black coffee. This does not imply that you must forego cream and sugar forever, but keep in mind that what you add to your coffee may have an impact on its health benefits.

Continue reading to learn more about what happens to your liver when you drink coffee, and check out Surefire Ways to Protect Your Liver for more healthy eating tips.

1. Coffee may help you avoid liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is a serious condition caused by an excessive buildup of scar tissue in your liver. This can have an effect on your liver's function over time, but mild stages of fibrosis can often be reversed with lifestyle changes and medications.

According to one study published in The Journal of Hepatology, drinking coffee (and tea) on a regular basis may help reduce your risk of liver fibrosis. The stiffness of the liver is one way to test for fibrosis, and this study found that coffee consumption was associated with less liver stiffness.

2. Coffee may aid in the management of liver enzyme levels.

Your liver contains enzymes that help to speed up certain processes in your body, such as the breakdown of toxins, the production of bile, and the fight against infections. If your body produces too many of these enzymes, they may leak into your bloodstream, indicating liver disease or damage.

Coffee consumption has been shown in studies to lower liver enzyme concentrations, particularly in people who consume a lot of alcohol. It has also been shown to lower these enzymes in people who are predisposed to liver disease.

3. Coffee may lower your chances of developing cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis of the liver is the later and more severe stage of scarring of the liver that was previously mentioned. Cirrhosis, unlike fibrosis, cannot usually be reversed, and it can lead to a variety of serious health complications.

Coffee consumption, fortunately, has been linked to a reduction in cirrhosis. More specifically, research has shown that coffee can help reduce the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis (a later stage of alcoholic liver disease) as well as the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis-related mortality.

4. Coffee may help lower your risk of developing liver cancer and disease.

As you can see, coffee consumption can be extremely beneficial to your liver's health. Drinking this delectable beverage may also lower your risk of liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

Other studies have shown that it not only has the potential to lower your risk of developing liver cancer, but it may also be able to slow the progression of liver disease in some people.

able to slow the progression of liver disease in some people.

If you're a big coffee fan, the news gets even better. The more you drink, the lower your chances of developing liver disease. In one study, researchers discovered that consuming 2 cups of coffee per day reduced the risk of cirrhosis by 44 percent, and consuming 4 cups per day reduced the risk by 65 percent.