Coffee May Protect Liver from Alcohol Abuse
Yesterday I was having problems with my Internet service (again)! I was on the phone with support for what seemed like ages. While we were testing my connection speed, I stumbled across an article on NPR.org about how Coffee May Protect the Liver from Alcohol Abuse. Mmmm.According to a recent study by Kaiser, “Heavy alcohol drinkers who also drank more than four cups of coffee a day had one-fifth the risk of developing cirrhosis compared to those who didn't drink coffee.”
I thought about my dad. He drinks a lot of coffee. So do I, even though I’m trying to cut down and drink tea instead. I still think of coffee as my one vice. I know it’s bad for me, but I can’t seem to break the habit (maybe I really don’t want to?). It’s interesting that coffee may actually have a positive effect at all.
A while ago, National Geographic came out with this amazing article on the effects of caffeine on the brain. It was scary to see virtually no brain activity in MRIs for people who were addicted to caffeine and who had not had any. Once these “addicts” were given a single cup of coffee, MRIs showed almost immediate brain activity. The article startled me, and I wish it was enough to make me quit. There was even another article about how doctors now consider caffiene addiction a mental disorder.
There’s just something about having the first cup of coffee in the morning. Yes, you can get the same caffeine from tea. But it’s just not the same.
Recently, a couple of my male friends have stopped drinking coffee all together, and now they experience a lot less anxiety. Strangely, out of all of my friends, these are also the two people who drink the most alcohol. I wonder if I should tell them.
posted by Elizabeth at 9:09 AM
4 Comments:
A story on NPR last week showed that people who drank 2 cups of coffee were better listeners: the understood a complex story better and were more open to the influence of another's position as compared to the control group who drank 2 cups of orange juice. Almost persuasive enough to make me go back to drinking coffee. But . . . the battle to quit was hard fought :-)
That’s surprising. It makes me feel a little better about my habit. At least I’ll be a good listener (or slightly more attentive anyway). If I had the discipline to give it up, I don’t think I’d be easily swayed.
But what about when you move to India and can’t drink the water? I think you might become addicted to chai, which is all the more reason for you to stay... :)
I enjoyed reading all your entrys to date.
What is a module? A class?
When are you going to India?
I share your zeal for walking in the wilderness.
Keep up the good blogging.
Love,
Aunt Sally
Sally,
It’s so good to hear from you! Did you read back through May and June?
Our classes are held in 4-5 day blocks and we are in class for 10-12 hours each day. It’s a little like boot camp. I think part of the reason the program is structured this way is so people will be tired and will not be able to use the same defense mechanisms or hide their reactions as they do in real life.
I guess a lot of people ask why our classes are held in modules. The answer:
A key aspect of LIOS experiential education is the modular format of class delivery. Modular classes are scheduled for a sequence of days (four to five in a row), with residential stays encouraged for the duration of the module. This format provides an environment that fosters community growth and development, helps to build trust, and encourages learning without outside distractions. Modular course work takes the student out of known contexts and relationships, and immerses them in an educational experience that is transformative and enriching.
I’ll just say when the week is done, I tend to be so tired I can’t think straight. All I want to do is take a long bath, have a glass of wine, and go to bed:)
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