More Coffee Consumption Fights Liver Damage From Alcohol — Study

Coffee contains 1000 compounds (photo by Amy March via Wikimedia Commons)

Spend any time around AA meetings or other rehab fixes and you’ll notice high consumption of two products/habits: coffee and cigarettes. It’s such a well-worn combo that there’s a movie about it. Well the cigarettes are a terrible thing for a recovering person’s health, preferable only to a drug/alcohol addiction that leaves one in the gutter. But the coffee — that’s not just a less destructive replacement addiction, it turns out. The coffee actually works to repair some of the liver damage done by alcohol abuse, says a new study.

Coffee isn’t just caffeine. “Coffee comprises over a thousand compounds, many of which are biologically active and may affect human health,” the study reminds us. The study’s meta-analysis concludes that “an increase in daily coffee consumption of two cups is associated with a near halving of the risk of cirrhosis.” Those in recovery and those who’ve done themselves damage in the past will take note. Knock out the smokes and have another cup of java.