Is coffee actually good or bad for your liver? It is time to settle the debate. With liver problems like fatty liver disease (especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or commonly known as NAFLD) going on the rise due to obesity, diabetes, and diet issues, many people are looking for simpler ways to protect their liver health.
There is good news here! Coffee might be the secret ingredient that can help in benefitting your liver. But there is a catch. It only helps you if you prepare coffee and consume it the right way. What is it, scroll to find out!
Coffee helps in protecting against fatty liver disease, a condition where too much fat or even collagen may build up in the liver. This mostly affects people who are obese, diabetic or have an abnormal lipid profile. If it is left untreated, it can cause a number of issues and even lead to liver failure. According to the latest research published in Cureus, drinking 3-4 cups of coffee may actually help in lowering NAFLD, also known as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) by improving insulin resistance and blood sugar levels. Additionally, this can also slow down the progression of other liver issues like cirrhosis, fibrosis and even infections like Hepatitis B and C.
So, what’s the best way to have coffee?
The healthiest option for coffee for your liver is black coffee that is made without sugar or high-fat milk. This becomes more significant for those who have fatty liver or suffer from other metabolic issues. Go for a drip or pour-over coffee in place of regular instant coffee as this is more flavourful when it comes to an Americano or iced one. The filter paper also removers certain compounds like kahweol and cafestol that can raise bad cholesterol.