Surprise, surprise. Did you know that drinking coffee helps keep your liver healthy? In observance of this year’s World Liver Day, NeedThat shares with you on this page all the information you need to know about its why, how, and top recommendations for the best healthy and high-quality coffee brands for you to try.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 4.5 million Americans have Chronic Liver Disease (CLD). It’s a progressive deterioration of liver functions for more than six months due to a range of liver-related conditions, such as alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and chronic viral hepatitis, among many others. These are what World Liver Day observes and raises awareness about every year to promote liver health. 
There are so many factors causing CLD, and fortunately for us, science and technology give us significantly more answers on how to prevent and manage it. One of which is the plethora of studies supporting the benefits of coffee in liver health.

What the research says about coffee + liver health

Several independent studies have repeatedly shown that drinking coffee lowers the risk of developing CLD, as well as protecting people who already have liver-related problems like cirrhosis, liver cancer, and inflammation. For better results, a 2016 PubMed Central research finds that consuming about three cups of coffee every day lowers the risk of death if already associated/dealing with CLD. 

Another published PubMed Central study in 2016 proves that coffee is beneficial to decreasing inflammation and, at the same time, increasing levels of the antioxidant glutathione. The latter is essential to the organ because it neutralizes harmful free radicals that are naturally produced in the body and can damage cells. 

These benefits appear to result from coffee’s ability to stop the accumulation of fat and collagen, two of the primary indicators of liver damage. Plus, it contains over 1,000 natural chemicals, many of which are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties to the organ. 

However, the massive scope of the coffee industry has led to servicing consumers with many different kinds, with instant, ground, and decaf as the three biggest categories. Today’s studies are investigating which among them are healthier and more beneficial to liver health. Fortunately, a 2021 BMC Public Health research shares the good news that all coffee types are shown to induce positive effects. 

Our recommended quality coffee brands

While all coffee types are positive for liver health, it’d be more comforting to know that using quality, if not always organic, coffee brands ensure better and healthier consumption. Here are some of our top recommended products:

• Lifeboost Dark Roast: This is one of the highest-rated and most popular organic coffee brands in the USA. It’s a clean, healthy, non-GMO, and pesticide-free product that delivers an outstanding flavor, a very smooth and drinkable experience. 

• Bulletproof The Original: If you’re a ground-type coffee drinker, make sure you give this organic brand a stir (if you haven’t yet). It features a superior flavor as its superior medium roast Arabica beans give you distinct notes of cinnamon, plum, and orange with a cocoa hazelnut finish.  

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Today’s local and global companies are committing to sustainable practices, but this brand from Oakland, California has been its prime mission since its founding in 2002. Blue Bottle Coffee achieves its high-quality, fresher, and richer flavor due to shortening the supply chain and strengthening the sustainable source. You can order its products either online or from retailers located in Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart. 

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Another ground coffee on our list is Stumptown’s Holler Mountain product. The brand is a small, boutique coffee roaster with transparent, direct trade sourcing of organic coffee beans – like that of Blue Bottle Coffee’s sustainable commitment. As such, many of its product varieties show its flexibility to regional and seasonal specialties. Its Holler Mountain is a fan-favorite, as very much seen in its thousands of ratings on Amazon. It’s a medium roast with distinct notes of creamy caramel and bursts of citrus and berries. 

• Joe Coffee Specialty Instant Coffee Packets: While this recommendation is a bit expensive for an instant coffee, it’s quite understandable as the product is from Joe Coffee. The New York coffee favorite since 2003 is known for its thorough harvesting and selection process, and the grounds for its Daily Specialty Instant Coffee are no exception. It’s a balanced feature between the brightness of a medium roast and the sweetness of milk chocolate and caramel – definitely a barista-worthy coffee to make in the comfort of your home or anywhere.

• RISE Brewing Co., Original Black Nitro Cold Brew Coffee: Cold brew coffees are among the rising trends in the coffee industry, thanks to their ingenious stability than hot coffees. But with many of them often being created with added calories and sugar from milk and syrup flavorings, RISE Brewing Co ensures to offer a fresh sip without any hints of sugar and dairy. Its nitro coffee is infused with nitrogen gas and served from a tap, thus resulting in a frothy texture, less acidity, and natural sweetness. 

Other foods to support liver health

Like in any other foods, high, toxic doses of caffeine – especially from coffee brands that use pesticides and don’t manage mycotoxins and molds – can have severe effects on multiple organs like the brain, heart, and muscle function. To further support your liver health, you can add other foods to your diet apart from coffee consumption, such as the following:

• Tea: Green tea, matcha, oolong tea, and dark tea. 
• Fruits: Grapefruit, blueberries and cranberries, grapes, and prickly pear.
• Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and other vegetables with high fiber content.
• Nuts that are rich in healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamin E, and beneficial plant compounds.
• Fatty fish, especially with omega-3 fatty acids.
• Olive oil
• Mediterranean-style dietary pattern: This brims with nutrient-dense ingredients that can also help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, among other health concerns. 

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