Coffee, even decaf, found to benefit liver health

Regular coffee has long been lauded for its liver-related health benefits, but a new study suggests that those who prefer decaf can now benefit as well. The study, published online in the journal Hepatology, suggests that the coffee itself, not the caffeine as previously suggested, is responsible for previously discovered benefits to liver health.

People who drank at least three cups of coffee per day, including those who drank only decaf, had lower levels of liver enzymes — an indication of better overall liver health.

“Perhaps the most important piece of information to be gleaned from this study is that the protective effects are unrelated to caffeine but in fact related to some intrinsic component of coffee itself,” Dr. David Bernstein, chief of the division of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York added.

For more information on liver health, please read the American Liver Foundation’s list “25 Ways to Love Your Liver”.