There’s good news for all the coffee addicts of the world, as a new study claims that drinking three cups of coffee a day could actually save your life. Who knew an addiction could produce such great results!
As reported at the Daily Mail, the latest research suggests that such an amount can dramatically reduce the risk of liver disease, liver cancer, and cirrhosis–by up to 70 percent!
The magical compounds providing all of these wonderful health benefits? The caffeine, kahweol, cafestol, and antioxidants found in the drink.
The mixture of these substances protects the liver and stops the scarring of tissue and inflammation, all of which are symptoms of the aforementioned illnesses.
Right now you’re probably wondering where this study came from and how they came to such a favorable conclusion. You’d be right to be a little skeptical considering some of the facts surrounding the study, however, that doesn’t make the claims untrue.
The study was funded by six large coffee manufacturers, including the likes of Lavazza and Nestlé, and was based on six previous studies looking into the benefits of coffee on the liver. The review heavily referenced Italian research from last year, which discovered three cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of these ailments up to 65 percent.
While Kaiser Permanente scientists found that drinking coffee made cirrhosis 25 percent less likely, others researchers’ numbers were as high as 70 percent. Other data also shows that liver cancer can be reduced by 40 percent, and the number may be higher if more coffee is consumed.
Moderate coffee drinking has already been defined as safe by the European Food Safety Authority’s review, which says three to five cups a day are acceptable. The study is good news considering the rising number of folks in the US and UK that suffer from liver related diseases. Figures indicate that 2 million Brits and 30 million Americans are affected, and those numbers are climbing thanks to rampant obesity, alcohol abuse, and un-diagnosed hepatitis infections.
Professor Graeme Alexander, from University College London, said the findings could help folks who have yet to be affected by liver problems make a proactive lifestyle change.
He added: “A moderate intake of coffee of three to five cups a day is associated with a beneficial effect on liver health. Patients often have a negative opinion of coffee and are not given proactive advice on coffee consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Judi Rhys, chief executive of the British Liver Trust said: “Liver disease is a silent killer as often there are no symptoms until it’s too late.”
He added, “Coffee is something that is easily accessible to everyone and regularly drinking it – filtered, instant or espresso – may make a difference in preventing, and, in some cases, slowing down the progression of liver disease. It is an easy lifestyle choice to make.”
So there you have it, the excuse you’ve been waiting for to justify your addiction to coffee. Here’s to a longer and more productive life thanks to coffee!
Source: Daily Mail