We Asked 3 Hepatologists What To Drink in the Morning for Liver Health and They All Said the Same Thing
The liver is your body's main detoxification system, constantly filtering out toxins from your blood to support your health. The liver also plays a crucial role in energy production in the body and more, making this an organ that's important to keep healthy.
But there's a lot that goes into supporting a healthy liver, including your diet. "There is no doubt that what you eat and drink impacts your liver health," says Dr. Kenneth Rothstein, MD, a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. While alcohol, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods can tax your liver, certain foods and drinks can boost it.
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In general, "diets rich in vegetables, fruits and whole foods provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help protect the liver," says Dr. Hatef Massoumi, MD, director of clinical hepatology, transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist, at Montefiore Einstein.
But while it makes sense that a healthy diet would support a healthy liver, there's one drink in particular that hepatologists consistently recommend to their patients-and it's not an obvious one.
The good news: You may already be enjoying this drink regularly and supporting your liver health without realizing it. Here's what hepatologists recommend sipping on to support your liver health, plus why many of them enjoy it, too.
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Best Morning Drink for Liver Health, According to 3 Hepatologists
It's coffee. "There's evidence showing daily coffee drinking improves liver health," says Dr. Raffi Karagozian, MD, a hepatologist at Tufts Medical Center.
Research published in the journal BMC Public Health in 2021 analyzed data from nearly 500,000 people and found that people who drink all types and amounts of coffee had a 21% lower risk of developing chronic liver disease compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Older research that analyzed data from more than 2.25 million people found that having one cup of caffeinated coffee a day was linked to a 20% lower risk of developing hepatocellular cancer, a common form of liver cancer. Up to five cups cut the risk in half. There are many more studies like that.
"Coffee appears to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with lower rates of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer in some studies," Dr. Massoumi tells Parade. "These benefits are particularly notable in people with fatty liver disease."
How To Drink Coffee for Liver Health
Dr. Rothstein recommends drinking two to three 8-ounce cups of coffee or tea a day to support your liver. "The antioxidants of both coffee and tea appear to protect against the development of liver cancer, specifically known as hepatocellular carcinoma," he says. "There is more research regarding the benefit of coffee over tea for preventing cancer."
Dr. Rothstein adds that it "does not matter" if the coffee contains caffeine or not.
"In general, black coffee is preferred because it avoids added sugars and excess calories," Dr. Massoumi tells Parade. But, if black coffee isn't appealing to you, he says it's fine to add a small amount of low-fat milk. "It's best to minimize sugar and avoid sugary creamers or syrups," he adds.
But Dr. Rothstein says that "it is more important to drink coffee" than to focus on having your coffee black. "I use a bit of honey and cinnamon, along with fat-free creamer," he shares. "Otherwise, I would not be drinking coffee. I hate black coffee."
Related: Here's Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day
Other Important Ways To Support Liver Health, According to Doctors
Drinking coffee isn't the only thing you can do for your liver health. Dr. Karagozian also recommends following the Mediterranean diet and aiming to do at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day.
Minimizing alcohol, trying to maintain a healthy weight and cutting back on refined carbohydrates and high-cholesterol foods is helpful for liver health, too, Dr. Rothstein says. "Coffee and tea should also be part of your daily routine," he adds.
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Sources:
- Dr. Raffi Karagozian, MD, a hepatologist at Tufts Medical Center
- Dr. Hatef Massoumi, MD, director of clinical hepatology, transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist, at Montefiore Einstein
- Dr. Kenneth Rothstein, MD, a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
- Cleveland Clinic. Liver.
- Kennedy, O.J., et al.All coffee types decrease the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in chronic liver disease: a UK Biobank study. BMC Public Health. 2021
- Kennedy OJ, et al. Coffee, including caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2017
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 7:50 AM.