As the number of obese Americans rises, so does the prevalence of diseases related to an unhealthy body weight. Being overweight is about more than just appearances, it can also affect a person’s heart and liver. For example, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that can be brought on by high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, two problems that are also associated with obesity.
In fact, in the past few years NAFLD has become the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S., something that scientists attribute to the rising obesity rates. Recently, researchers from Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas have found that individuals with this condition may want to drink more coffee. The beverage has been shown to decrease risk of hepatic fibrosis, a common side effect of NAFLD.Specifically, the scientists found that coffee was beneficial for people with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a subset of NAFLD that can lead to scarring of the liver.
“Patients with NASH may benefit from moderate coffee consumption that decreases risk of advanced fibrosis. Further prospective research should examine the amount of coffee intake on clinical outcomes,” said researcher Stephen Harrison, M.D.
As the prevalence of NAFLD rises, it’s important for people to understand how to combat the symptoms of this disease.
http://www.easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/coffee-may-fight-liver-scarring/
