6 facts about how coffee affects the human liver — is it useful or harmful?

Doctors sometimes extol coffee, then demonize it. The classical dietetics of the "Soviet" school did not recommend drinking it, except with milk, in a highly diluted form and only a couple of times a week.

But times have changed – more and more scientific studies are being published indicating the beneficial effects of caffeine on the human body. Most scientific publications focus on the effects of caffeine on the central nervous system , its influence on Brain work , memory and mood human.

But the purpose of some studies was to study the effects of caffeine on the human liver.

One study confirms that coffee has hepatoprotective properties and helps to increase the level of liver enzymes. And drinking this drink can be useful for people suffering from hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NZHBP ), as well as alcohol-related lesions.

Other research came to this result: in patients suffering from cirrhosis and regular coffee drinkers, the rate of disease progression decreased and the mortality rate from cirrhosis decreased.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what effect caffeine has on the human digestive tract, especially on the liver, what rules should be followed when drinking, and also in which cases coffee can cause harm instead of benefit.

5 useful properties

The liver is the main "filter" of the body. The better it works, the more high-quality and natural products we include in the diet. Healthy digestion, timely outflow of bile and regular bowel movements are the keys to good liver function. It is precisely these properties that coffee has. Let's look at the 5 most significant ones.

1. Prevention of liver cancer

Doctor of Medical Sciences, oncologist from Italy Carlo La Vecchia conducted a large-scale study of patients with liver cancer. He concluded that people who drink 2 cups of a drink a day are less susceptible to neoplasms than those who have refused a drink all their lives or abused it.

In addition, according to the Italian oncologist, caffeine slows down the division of pathological cells, and contributes to the normalization of metabolism, therefore it should not be excluded even by patients.

2. Improved digestion

A cup of natural coffee stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. In hot countries, it is not for nothing that it is customary to drink coffee, and not tea after a plate of spaghetti, hearty pizza, or panna cotta. The bitter taste increases salivation and enhances fermentation.

Coffee has a positive effect on digestion, and doctors do not recommend drinking it on an empty stomach. Too much enzyme activity can cause pain and discomfort.

3. Choleretic effect

Ensuring regular outflow of bile is a good prevention not only of gallstones, ductal dyskinesia, and cholecystitis, but also of liver diseases. A cup of coffee is almost like an extract of immortelle, only it's more pleasant to drink it in the morning.

The outflow of bile improves, nutrients are fully absorbed, the liver is not overloaded with various metabolic products, the person feels good.

4. Cleansing the body

Few people know, but the drink has a very mild laxative effect. It tones the smooth muscles of the intestine, and the body quickly gets rid of "waste".

Regular waste evacuation helps to cleanse and restore proper liver function too.

Coffee allows you to get rid of excess without any special manipulations, such as drinking oil on an empty stomach, endless bran, kefir at night and other unpleasant folk recipes.

Freshly ground natural coffee of Arabica and Robusta varieties is most useful for the liver.

5. Effect on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism

Aromatic drink optimizes fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It helps to get rid of excess metabolic products, and protects against damage to liver cells. At least, the latest scientific research confirms this.

There is information that coffee prevents alcohol toxins from destroying our main filter, and also cleans it. Therefore, it is worth drinking a cup not only for "sobering up", but also as a protection.

Other Properties

You can find other facts about the effect of coffee on the body on this infographic:

 

Potential harm

In some situations, coffee can be not only useful, but also harmful. But there are a number of nuances here. It is important to separate natural freshly brewed coffee beans and various sublimate-based drinks. Not all plants follow the recipe, for some it is easier to add flavors and dyes to a soluble concentrate than to really cool a freshly brewed drink, dry it, grind it and pack it in a convenient container.

The harm of instant coffee:

1. The product may contain toxins. It is worth refraining from the cheap varieties offered by the mass market. The information on the package will tell you if there are dyes (colors) and flavor enhancers in the drink;
2. Does not go well with sweet and fatty. Simultaneous consumption of all three products leads to a sharp vasoconstriction liver. Problems with blood circulation do not allow effective elimination of toxins, and the body is poisoned. Regular liver overload can lead to metabolic disorders, fatty hepatosis, and other problems;
3. Drink abuse. And even the most useful product in huge quantities causes liver problems. Systemic disorders – the more we drink an invigorating drink, the less we eat well, as our appetite disappears. More sweet, fatty, semi–finished products to support activity - a significant load on liver cells. The result is an increased tendency to diseases.

Is it possible to talk about the harm of a natural drink for the liver? Yes, if a person drinks too much, constantly, and at the same time does not control blood pressure and blood sugar levels. An increase in blood pressure has a detrimental effect on the vessels of the liver, and during physical exertion can cause microfractures.

As we have already found out above, coffee has many positive properties, including for the digestive tract, including the liver. And it can cause harm for the following reasons:

• Abuse;
• Consumption of low-quality instant drink;
• Coffee consumption in case of already existing serious pathologies, without prior consultation with a doctor.

Thus, preference should be given to a natural drink, and also observe the measure of drinking no more than 2-3 cups a day. In addition, it is important to be aware of all existing diseases in which coffee may be contraindicated. If these 3 conditions are met, there is nothing to fear and you should not give up your favorite drink, especially considering its so many useful properties.

But for even greater safety, we recommend that you follow the other rules described below.

5 rules of safe use

Be sure to follow the following rules:

1. The perfect drink is freshly ground grain and brewed in any way black coffee with low-fat milk, but without sugar.
2. Drink coffee 2-3 times a day. More precisely, not more often than the specified amount, and not with a "bucket" of 500 ml, but with a cup of 150 ml. Make a ceremony out of the procedure, a way to take a break from business, disconnect. So you can enjoy the taste to the fullest and avoid diseases;
3. Cappuccino and latte lovers should get used to milk with a fat content of up to 3.5% . Avoiding cream and sugar is the key to a healthy liver and pancreas. Of course, you can replace natural milk with soy or oatmeal, and sugar with the sweetener Fitparad;
4. Give up instant drink . It is better to drink it as an exception. For those who are always in a hurry, ground species are suitable. You can just throw 1-2 spoons into a mug, pour boiling water, and enjoy the taste and aroma in just 3-5 minutes;
5. Alternate the types of roasting. The stronger the coffee is roasted, the more it contains potentially harmful substances, so keep a strong option for special occasions, and use a medium roast for every day.

Can the liver hurt from coffee?

Modern science insists that the liver should not hurt if we are talking about moderate consumption of high-quality coffee. The pancreas and biliary tract are another matter. If you drink too much, or choose cheap low-quality options, pain and even exacerbations of chronic diseases are possible.

Pain and heaviness in the liver can occur from combinations of coffee and alcohol, or coffee and fatty. Scientific sources are contradictory on this issue. Some say that drinking caffeine with alcohol helps protect liver cells from alcohol damage, others say that such a combination poisons the body and should never be practiced.

There is evidence that the liver can malfunction from a constant breakfast in the style of "coffee and something sweet and fatty at the same time." The American doctor D. Kessler writes about this phenomenon, as well as about addiction to caffeine and sugar. He believes that black coffee is completely harmless, but it's not worth using something like frapuccino, RAF coffee or cocktails with sweet cream, cookies and other ingredients. David reminds us that fatty hepatosis is a constant companion of coffee cocktail lovers. And its presence prevents the liver from participating normally in lipid metabolism, and contributes to general obesity.

In this way, the root of the problem may not be in the drink at all , and in general, the imbalance of the diet, the presence in the diet of a large amount of harmful fats, fried foods. Many people simply consume an excessive amount of calories, gain weight, and fat becomes nowhere else to be deposited, except in the liver.

Is it possible to drink with diseases?

Classical dietetics, based on the textbook of M.I. Pevsner from the 30s of the last century, denies us pleasure. According to Soviet medicine, the only coffee that is possible with a diseased liver is a barely cloudy drink with a lot of milk.

Modern medicine is not so categorical. In Europe and America, the drink is allowed, introducing only additional rules for use in various diseases:

1. Enlarged liver. The complete exclusion of instant coffee, the transition to natural freshly brewed analogues, the rejection of alcohol, sweet and fried foods – these are the general recommendations of nutritionists.
2. Fatty hepatosis. is usually closely associated with an existing lipid metabolism disorder and an imbalance in the diet. If the diet is dominated by fats, simple carbohydrates, and there is not enough protein, there is little coffee can spoil or fix something. All doctors agree that with fatty hepatosis, you can drink 2 cups of black coffee a day, or dilute the drink with low-fat milk , or its vegetable counterpart. You should not add a bun, chocolate bar or other sweets.
3. Hepatitis. For hepatitis of any form, it is advised to follow a gentle diet, and include low-fat foods in the diet, porridges made from natural cereals , and lean poultry and fish, and drink coffee exclusively weak and natural.
4. Cirrhosis. The most serious disease affecting metabolism very significantly requires caffeine restriction. You can drink natural Americano no more than 1-2 times a week. If the disease is not in severe steel, you can consult your doctor about more frequent coffee consumption.

Special versions of the drink

For those who want to improve the cleansing properties and get more benefits, there are ethnic varieties of coffee with additives.

For example, in Chinese folk medicine, coffee is mixed with an extract of the cordyceps tree mushroom.

This product is often distributed under the guise of a weight loss drink, hepatoprotector and immune booster. Yes, these properties are inherent in the mixture, but it will not be able to replace the medications prescribed by the doctor. Coffee with cordyceps should be considered as an interesting ethnic drink with beneficial properties.

Related videos

We recommend watching such videos:

 

Conclusion

So, coffee cannot be considered a cause of liver disease. If problems arise, it is worth undergoing a comprehensive medical examination and reviewing the entire diet. Perhaps a cup of cheerfulness is not related to a problem or illness, but regular beer on Fridays is very much so.