If you like to wake up with a cup of coffee in the morning, then you (and your gut) are very lucky. According to a recent review published by nutrients, the habit of drinking coffee can actually help to help your digestive system—including his intestine and liver.
The review, which was supported by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, evaluated 194 different publications and concluded that moderate coffee consumption (about three to five cups a day) does not create any harmful effects on the digestive tract. In fact, drinking coffee was linked to a healthier composition of gut microbiota (keeping your body’s gut bacteria population healthy), positively affects your digestive tract and colon, and even lowers your risk of developing liver diseases.
How does this work? Actually, it’s all related to the caffeine found naturally in coffee. The caffeine in coffee can help stimulate a digestive hormone in the body called gastrin, as well as hydrochloric acid found in the stomach. Stimulating them helps break down food in the stomach, while also stimulating cholecystokinin, a hormone that stimulates the secretion of bile, which is important during digestion.
This, of course, seems contrary to some of the earlier claims about coffee, which some believed could cause digestive problems. But nevertheless, this review debunks the claim and delves into how coffee can actually help the digestive process.
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How does this specifically help the liver?
While this review shows various ways that coffee can help with the digestive process, one of the main points that the review concludes is how coffee strongly supports liver function and decreases the risk of liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, a common type of liver cancer.
This claim is also supported by a 2021 study published by BMC Public Health, which concluded that drinking a moderate amount of coffee per day (three to four cups) can reduce the risk of all chronic liver diseases, including fatty liver disease and liver cancer.
Fortunately, drinking a few cups of coffee a day (even the caffeinated variety) is still perfectly good for your health. An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of coffee, and the US Food and Drug Administration says to limit your caffeine intake to 400 milligrams per day. That equates to four cups of coffee a day!
So baby, it’s really good for you! especially if you are drinking it black.
For more tips on healthy drinks, see The #1 Best Juice for Everyday Drive, Science Says.
