The beverage battles

Coffee Protects You From THIS Disease If you are at risk for liver disease, then drinking caffeinated coffee, tea, and soda may help protect you from getting it, HealthDayNews reports of a new study from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Previous research has reached a similar conclusion, although scientists are still baffled as to why caffeine protects against liver disease. "Caffeine blocks one receptor found in the brain and liver. This may have immunological effects, but this is really speculative," lead researcher Dr. James E. Everhart told HealthDayNews.

The study: Along with Dr. Constance E. Ruhl from Social and Scientific Systems in Silver Spring, Maryland, Everhart collected data on 5,944 men and women who were at high risk for liver injury either from excessive drinking, hepatitis B or C, iron overload, obesity, or impaired sugar metabolism. The participants were asked, among many other questions, how much coffee, tea, and soft drinks they consumed.

The results: The more caffeinated beverages these people drank, the less likely they were to develop liver injury, no matter their age, gender, or ethnic group. The study findings were presented to a Digestive Disease Week meeting in New Orleans.

Off of wmconnect news