by
Stepy —
September 4, 2013
- Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the early morning?
- America has had a real love affair with coffee for as long as we can remember.
- It awakens the mind, keeps us alert, and just seems to make our day a little better.
- Many of us may have chosen to give up our favorite drink, mostly because of the negative reports associated to coffee.
- Recent research might give coffee lovers a reason to smile again and may put an end to this negativity.
- A recent study led by Duke Graduate Medical School in Singapore showed that coffee may do more than just wake you up in the morning. The research suggests that increased caffeine intake (coffee or tea) may reduce fatty liver in persons with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- According to the study, 70% of those diagnosed with diabetes and obesity have NAFLD, which is considered the main cause of fatty liver not including alcohol consumption. An estimated 30% of adults in the United States have this condition. As of now, there is no cure for NAFLD other than diet and exercise.
- Paul Yen, M.D., who led the study, observed that when mice were given caffeine, the fats that were stored in their liver cells were metabolized, and the fatty liver was decreased. The team concluded that four cups of coffee or tea a day may help prevent the development of NAFLD.
- “This is the first detailed study of the mechanism for caffeine action on lipids in liver and the results are very interesting,” Yen explained. “Coffee and tea are so commonly consumed and the notion that they may be therapeutic, especially since they have a reputation for being “bad” for health, is especially enlightening.”
- The team also believes that these findings open up many possibilities for caffeine-like drugs that don’t have the same side effects of caffeine. They also hope that this study is the beginning of many studies on the health benefits of caffeine.
- This is indeed encouraging news.
- For the unique benefits of popular teas.
- For the health benefits of chamomile tea.
- For the health benefits of green tea.
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- REFERENCES:
- 1. “Coffee and Tea May Contribute to a Healthy Liver.” Newswise.com. Newswise, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 26 Aug. 2013. http://www.newswise.com/articles/coffee-and-tea-may-contribute-to-a-healthy-liver
