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For many people, a cup of coffee a day is a non-negotiable, but new research published by the American Gastroenterological Association reveals that a cup of coffee—or five—per day may have more benefits than just keeping people awake.
To draw these conclusions, researchers analyzed more than 355,000 adults’ data from the United Kingdom‘s Biobank over a period of about 13 years. Participants did not have liver cancer or cirrhosis at the start of the study.
‘A simple strategy’
The study suggests that drinking coffee daily could reduce risk of liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver mortality. Participants in the group drinking more than five cups per day saw risk reductions in all of these areas.
“Higher coffee intake was associated with favorable clinical, imaging and proteomic indicators of liver health,” the study reports.
“These multidimensional findings support moderate unsweetened coffee as a simple strategy for liver disease prevention.”
The effects of coffee type, additives like sweeteners and metabolic modifiers remain unclear after the conclusion of the study.
This is not the first time that the health benefits of coffee have been suggested.
Rush reports that coffee has shown improvements to overall health, protection against Type 2 Diabetes, control of Parkinson’s disease symptoms, slowed progression of dementia, promotion of heart health, reduced melanoma risk and lower mortality risk.
“Keep in mind that the research focuses on the benefits of black coffee, which we’re still learning about,” Steven Rothschild, M.D., family medicine physician at Rush University Medical Center says.
“But we definitely know the harms associated with the fat and sugar you find in a lot of coffee drinks.”
Bittersweet Benefits
Rothschild’s warnings are important for those inspired by the study to keep in mind, as the positive effects of coffee only go so far when the drink is loaded down with sugary creamers.
“Unless they’re sugar-free… creamers carry a ton of added sugar. Some popular brands contain 5 grams per tablespoon, which is 10 percent of your daily recommended sugar intake,” Delish reports.
“And just to be clear, almost no one uses just one tablespoon of creamer at a time.”
While sugar-free creamers may seem like a good alternative for people to reap the benefits of both liver health and taste-maximization, the outlet emphasizes that even these may be too good to be true.
“Not surprisingly, consuming these artificial sweeteners can have negative consequences over time, reducing the good bacteria in your gut and increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Choosing the sugar-free option is hardly a free pass.”
‘An important component’
But for those that enjoy their coffee black, these new findings may just be their ticket to healthier living, says study author Hyunseok Kim, MD, MPH, PhD, physician-scientist and transplant hepatologist in the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California, speaking to Medical News Today.
“While our study cannot prove that coffee directly prevents liver disease, the consistency of these associations across multiple outcomes strengthens the evidence that coffee may be an important component of a liver-healthy lifestyle.”
Newsweek has reached out to study authors for comment via email.
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