Daily Tips For Good Health

Coffee, Your Liver and You

The effects of excess consumption of alcohol on your liver are well-documented and include cirrhosis, which is the loss of functional liver cells. And while a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests coffee may offset alcohol's effects on the liver and aid in the prevention of cirrhosis, the researchers say they don’t know whether the caffeine or another ingredient in the coffee provides the apparent benefit to your liver.

The study also found coffee drinkers had better results on blood tests used to measure liver function, whether or not they were heavy alcohol users.

In general, your best defense against alcohol-related liver disease continues to be the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans that recommend moderate consumption of alcohol — defined as two drinks per day for men, and one per day for women.

A Toast to Heart Health

Do you wonder if a drink a day can help prevent heart disease?

Red wine and other alcoholic beverages have been the subject of heart disease research. While the answers aren't yet conclusive, it appears that moderate alcohol consumption may help reduce heart disease risk.

This potential benefit is not a reason to start drinking. The research reports that moderate amounts of alcohol, one to two drinks per day, can help increase HDL cholesterol and may slow formation of LDL, the bad cholesterol. Alcohol consumption was part of a routine that included a low-fat eating plan and regular physical activity, two habits anyone can benefit from.

More and more research is looking at compounds in foods that may maximize health. Until research makes a positive conclusion, don't deviate from the tried and true, consume a wide variety of food from the Food Guide Pyramid and include regular physical activity.

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