Drinking coffee is more than a morning routine, it may be a natural allied for your liver’s health thanks to its antioxidants and polyphenols, according to Dr. Carlos Jaramillo, a functional medicine expert from Harvard University.
Science shows coffee has multiple benefits for the body that maybe not many people know, but it is important to know how to drink coffee correctly to get the most benefits. So, let’s learn how to do this.
Coffee doesn’t detox de liver
I am sure you have heard that coffee can ‘’clean’’ or detox the liver after eating too much or drinking alcohol, but Dr. Jaramillo says this is not true. What coffee does is to act like a ‘’biotransformer’’ helping the liver enzymes to process toxins and fats in our body in a more efficient way. So, coffee antioxidants support the two main phases of the liver’s biotransformers, making sure the organ functions properly.
Liver’s health
Coffee has become a very relevant issue for liver’s health and functional nutrition. But, to make the most of the benefits this drink provides, you must follow three key rules:
- Purity is essential: Drink coffee plain, without sugar or processed creamers. A little cinnamon is okay, but sweeteners and instant creams can cancel the antioxidants’ benefits.
- Personal dose: Everyone reacts differently to caffeine. Each person should adjust how much coffee they drink based on their own sensitivity.
- Timing matters: Coffee should be consumed from morning until midday. Caffeine can take 8 to 12 hours to leave the body, and drinking it late can interfere with deep sleep, which is when the body regenerates.
Importance of coffee quality
Dr. Jaramillo emphasizes that not every coffee is the same. For example:
- Arabica coffee: Cleaner chemical profile, less caffeine, and gentler on the nervous system.
- Robusta coffee: More resistant and cheaper, but contains double the caffeine and can have more acrylamides if processed poorly.
The best choice you can make is drinking a good quality coffee, if possible whole beans ground at the moment of brewing, because cheap or industrially processed coffee doesn’t provide the same health benefits.
How coffee support the liver
Coffee provides antioxidants and polyphenols that support the liver with its chemical natural processes. According to Dr. Jaramillo, this is particularly useful for people with fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and increased risk of liver cancer.
Benefits beyond the liver
Besides supporting liver health, coffee has additional scientifically backed benefits such as:
- Provides a daily dose of antioxidants.
- Improves cognition and concentration.
- Supports cardiovascular health.
These benefits make coffee a functional food rather than just a stimulant or habit.
To sum up
Isn’t it incredible the many benefits this everyday drink has? Maybe this is something that not many coffee drinkers know, and they are missing out.
So, next time you brew your cup of coffee, think of it as a small act of self-care: you are not only enjoying its aroma and taste but also giving your body antioxidants that help it stay strong and active. With every sip, you have the power to turn your daily coffee into a true ally for your wellbeing.