Do you like drinking coffee? Studies have found that the ingredients in coffee can effectively reduce the risk of liver cancer. Among the different types of coffee, one type of coffee has the best liver protection effect.
Coffee is good for protecting liver. Instant coffee is also effective
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), liver cancer ranked third among cancer deaths in 2020, with a total of 830,000 people dying from liver cancer worldwide.
Factors such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, and viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, hepatitis C) may cause the liver to develop from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and finally into liver cancer.
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Several studies have found that habitual coffee drinking can protect the liver, slow down the damage to the liver caused by the above factors, and thus reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The European Journal of Cancer Prevention once published a research report, which found that respondents who drank coffee regularly every day had a 34% lower risk of developing liver cancer in the next 6 to 22 years, and also reduced the risk of developing cirrhosis in the next 14 to 19 years.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) found in a survey conducted between 2001 and 2008 that the more coffee Americans consumed, the lower their risk of fatty liver disease.
Another Japanese study found that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and hepatitis in patients with hepatitis B and C. The study pointed out that drinking one cup of coffee a day can reduce the probability of cirrhosis and hepatitis to 78%; drinking two cups of coffee can reduce the risk to half; drinking four cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk to 25%.
A large-scale study in 2019 further pointed out that even instant coffee, which is considered inferior, can help reduce the risk of liver cancer. This large-scale study published in the British Journal of Cancer conducted a questionnaire and a 7.5-year follow-up survey on the relationship between coffee drinking habits and cancer among 470,000 people in the UK. The study found that drinking coffee can help significantly reduce the risk of liver cancer. If further classified by coffee type, both instant coffee and ground coffee powder can play a role in preventing liver cancer.
Liver-protecting coffee champion: lightly roasted sun-dried black coffee
The reason why coffee can protect the liver is that it contains a variety of antioxidants. For example, chlorogenic acid in coffee can help remove free radicals and inflammatory factors from the body, improve inflammation in the body, and protect cell tissues.
Staying up late, mood swings, stress and other common conditions in modern life can easily cause liver depression, fatty liver and hepatitis. Lausanne Gacan, president of the Lausanne Preventive Medicine Group, pointed out that some ingredients in coffee can increase endorphin secretion, bring a sense of pleasure, and promote metabolism, thereby reducing the risk of fatty liver.
In order for coffee to achieve the best liver-protecting effect, it is important to drink the right coffee.
Losang Jiacan, who often drinks coffee, recommends sun-dried lightly roasted coffee beans. He selects good quality beans and brews them with hot water without adding sugar or milk.
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Lightly roasted coffee can retain more antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid. Dark roasting will destroy the nutritional value of coffee and cause the loss of chlorogenic acid.
“Material selection is also very important,” Luosang Jiacan emphasized. Coffee beans exposed to the sun can remove moisture and prevent mold. If coffee beans are moldy, it will harm the liver and kidneys.
Brewing coffee with hot water can extract more beneficial ingredients, such as chlorogenic acid. Although the delicate flavor of ice-drip coffee is quite popular, it is too cold and not suitable for girls who suffer from menstrual cramps.
Coffee with sugar added may cause obesity and aggravate liver inflammation. Latte with milk added is also not good for liver protection. Because milk contains milk fat, Losang Jiacan pointed out that a study found that drinking a cup of latte every day for a month will make you gain 1.2 kilograms and may cause fatty liver.
Although some studies have mentioned that the risk of liver cancer decreases with increasing coffee consumption, it still depends on individual physical condition. Excessive caffeine intake will cause the human nervous system to be overexcited, resulting in palpitations, excessive gastric acid secretion and insomnia. Losang Gacan said that drinking 1 to 2 cups of lightly roasted coffee a day is OK, and he does not feel uncomfortable drinking 2 cups a day. A cup of heavily roasted coffee usually contains more caffeine, so it should be consumed in moderation, and pay attention to whether you feel any discomfort after drinking it.
