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What causes white spots on the tonsils?

When someone has a sore throat, one of the first things they may do is check the back of their mouth. The tonsils, which are part of the lymphatic system, are located on the back of the throat. If white spots are present on the tonsils, it is understandable to be concerned. The good news is that several conditions can cause white spots on the tonsils. Most of them are easily treated. When white spots appear on the tonsils, they may present as blotches or streaks. They may also contain pus. Most common symptom that occurs is a sore throat. White spots on the tonsils usually indicate an infection. Treatment varies depending on the cause.
Contents of this article:
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
Preventing white spots on the tonsils
Fast facts on white spots on tonsils:
Here are some key points about white spots on tonsils. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
White spots may be confined to the tonsils or located throughout the mouth.
If the white spots do not go away in a few days, or are accompanied by a sore throat, it is advisable to see a doctor.
Treatments vary, but gargling warm salt water several times a day may help ease the pain.
A doctor may diagnose the cause of white spots after a review of symptoms and a physical exam, or blood tests.
Causes
The most common cause is an infection. Infections may be due to bacteria, a fungus, or a virus. Although anyone can develop an infection that leads to white spots on the tonsils, having a weakened immune system puts a person at a higher risk.
Some of the more common infections that can cause white spots include:
Strep throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus.
Complications of strep throat can develop if the bacterium causing the infection spreads to other parts of the body, such as the heart. Complications include rheumatic fever and ear, and sinus infections.
Additional symptoms that may indicate strep throat include:
Sore throat
Fever
Swollen glands in the neck
Headache
Strep throat is a common infection, especially in children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 6 out of every 20 children with a sore throat have strep throat.
Oral thrush
Oral thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth. Oral thrush can develop in anyone but is most common in babies. It can also occur as a side effect of medications, such as oral steroids. People with a weakened immune system are at an increased risk of a fungal infection, including oral thrush.
White spots may be the only symptom of oral thrush, but when additional symptoms develop they may include:
Sore throat
Pain when swallowing
Loss of taste
White spots may also appear on the cheeks, tongue, and roof of the mouth.
Viral tonsillitis
Tonsillitis involves inflammation or swelling of the tonsils. Although the Streptococcus bacterium can lead to tonsillitis, it is not the only cause.
Tonsillitis can also develop due to a viral infection. Symptoms may include:
Swollen tonsils
Painful swallowing
Fever
Ear pain
Nasal congestion
Common viruses that may cause tonsillitis include rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.
Infectious mononucleosis
Mononucleosis is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, which affects certain blood cells.
Along with white spots on the back of the throat, symptoms may include:
Fever
Sore throat
Fatigue
Infectious mononucleosis spreads easily from person to person.
Tonsil stones
The tonsils have several crevices. Bacteria and mucus can become stuck in them. When this material gets trapped, the debris may harden and calcify, which causes white spots.
Symptoms may include:
Bad breath
Ear pain
Painful swallowing
Some people may not even notice they have tonsil stones, especially if the stones are small.
Rare causes of white spots
There are also other causes that are less common than those listed above. Additional causes include a pre-cancerous condition called leukoplakia, oral herpes, and oral cancer.
Diagnosis
A medical exam will aid diagnosis and may include looking in the back of the throat and feeling the lymph glands in the neck. In some cases, doctors may recommend blood tests and a throat culture. Blood tests indicate if certain antibodies are present, which helps identify specific infections. A throat culture involves rubbing a cotton swab across the back of the throat to collect a sample from the tonsils. The cells and secretions collected are analyzed to identify the presence of bacteria and determine the type of infection.
Treatments
There are a variety of causes of white spots, so there is a range of treatments. For example, if spots are due to tonsil stones, treatment may include removal of the stones.
Spot’s due to strep throat require an antibiotic. White spots on the tonsils due to an oral yeast infection may need antifungal medication. If recurrent infections of the tonsils are an issue, surgery may be recommended to remove the tonsils.
A doctor will not usually prescribe antibiotics for white spots on the tonsils due to a viral infection, such as mononucleosis or viral tonsillitis.

Recommended treatment at home may include:
Drinking warm liquids to decrease throat pain
Taking over the counter pain relievers
Getting plenty of rest, which allows the body to fight an infection?
Using a humidifier to reduce throat swelling and irritation
Sucking on throat lozenges to ease discomfort
The time it takes for white spots to clear up may vary based on the cause and treatment used. Most of the causes of white spots on the tonsils are treatable or clear up on their own in a few weeks.
Preventing white spots on the tonsils
Hand-washing is one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of viral and bacterial infections that may lead to white spots. Keeping the immune system strong by getting enough rest, eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise can also decrease a person's chances of developing an infection. Covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and limiting close contact with others until their symptoms have cleared up will also help prevent the infection spreading.

Eye stroke Symptoms risks and treatment
The eyes as all the body's organs depend on the flow of oxygen-rich blood to function.They have nerves and tissues that send signals to the brain to create a visual image. One of these critical tissues is the retina, which is at the back of the eye.The retina plays a crucial role in sending visual signals to the brain, and it contains small and large arteries and veins that move blood to and from the heart.This blood is essential to vision, and a blockage in the retina's blood vessels can permanently affect vision and lead to blindness.An eye stroke also known as retinal artery occlusion is caused by a clot, or narrowing of the retina's blood vessels. The retina's blood flow is interrupted and, if left untreated, can result in permanent damage to the retina and loss of sight.
Contents of this article:
What is an eye stroke?
Symptoms
Diagnosing an eye stroke
Treatment
Preventing an eye stroke
Outlook
What is an eye stroke?
During an eye stroke the retina's veins or arteries stop working as they should. They become blocked by a clot or a narrowing of the blood vessel.Much like a cerebral stroke, where blood to the brain is reduced or cut off, the retinas in the eye lose their blood supply. Blood and fluid may spill out into the retina and cause swelling. Both the retinas and a person's eyesight can rapidly become damaged.There are several different types of eye strokes, depending on the blood vessel that is affected:
Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO): The retina's main vein becomes blocked.
Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO): The retina's central artery becomes blocked.
Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO): The retina's small veins become blocked.
Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO): The retina's small arteries become blocked.
Am I at risk of an eye stroke?
Certain people may have a higher risk than others of having an eye stroke. The risk factors are similar to those of a regular stroke.
Those who have a personal or family history of the following conditions may have a higher risk:
Atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the arteries
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Previous heart attack or stroke
Chest pain
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes or a family history of diabetes
Glaucoma
The American Academy of Ophthalmology says that people in their 60s may have the highest risk for an eye stroke, especially men.
Symptoms
An eye stroke is usually painless. A sudden change in a person's vision or loss of vision in one eye is often the first symptom of an eye stroke. Vision loss can affect the entire eye, or be subtler than that. Some people experience a loss of peripheral vision only or have blind spots or "floaters." Blurry or distorted vision is also possible. Vision changes can start out mild, and then become worse over several hours or days. A cerebral stroke, which affects blood flow to the brain, can also cause sudden vision loss or changes in vision. For this reason, any sudden changes to vision require emergency medical attention. The longer any stroke is left untreated, the more likely it is that the affected organs will be permanently damaged.
Diagnosing an eye stroke
Sudden vision loss is a medical emergency.
To diagnose an eye stroke, doctors may have to perform tests to see the retina of the eye. These may include:
Dilating the eyes with drops to see the retina more easily.
Using a dye and a camera to take pictures of the retina, known as fluoresce in angiography. The dye is injected via the arm and allows the doctor to see the retina's veins and arteries more clearly.
Checking pressure inside the eye using a puff of air.
Slit-lamp examination, which uses eye drops, a special light, and a microscope to examine the inside of the eyes.
Vision tests, such as reading eye charts and checking side or peripheral vision.
These tests are painless and are performed by an eye doctor, known as an ophthalmologist.
Treatment
Treatment for an eye stroke should be given as soon as possible, to help minimize damage to the retina. Treatment options include:
Medicines that dissolve blood clots a procedure that helps move the clot away from the retina
Widening the arteries in the retina with an inhaled gas
People may also need long-term follow-up care to treat heart disease or blood vessel problems that may have contributed to the eye stroke.
Preventing an eye stroke
Having tests for heart disease is a key part of preventing an eye stroke. This may include regular cholesterol and blood pressure checks, and discussing other risk factors for heart disease, such as family history, diet, and lifestyle.
Heart disease risk factors have a role in the risk for eye strokes. An article in the journal Eye states that 64 percent of people had at least one new, undiagnosed heart disease risk factor that was found after they had an eye stroke. The biggest factor for these individuals was high cholesterol.
In general, to keep blood vessels healthy and help prevent eye stroke, people should:
Get regular exercise; the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2.5 hours a week
Eat a heart-healthy diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats
Work with a dietician, as recommended for some individuals
Avoid or quit smoking
Work with a doctor to manage other health conditions, such as diabetes
Outlook
The long-term outlook for people with eye stroke can vary widely. It depends on the severity of the stroke, the success of treatment, and the arteries or veins that were affected. The article in the journal Eye, as mentioned above, found that 80 percent of people who had an eye stroke had significant vision loss of 20/400 or worse. In some cases a person may regain some of their vision over time. A study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology found that vision loss can improve in many people, depending on the type of eye stroke they had. The authors say that identifying the type of eye stroke is an important factor in how well a person may be able to see afterward.
Conclusion
Following a heart-healthy lifestyle is not just good for the heart. It can improve overall health and reduce the risk of problems, such as eye stroke and vision loss.

Stomatitis: Types! causes and treatment

Stomatitis is inflammation of the mouth. It affects the mucous membranes, which are the thin skin coverings on the inside surface of the mouth. The membranes produce the protective mucus, as well as lining the digestive system, from the mouth to the a**s.
Stomatitis is a type of mucositis, a condition defined as pain or inflammation of the mucous membrane.Mucositis is a relatively common side effect of chemotherapy and sometimes radiotherapy. It can affect the inside of the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, and throat.
Stomatitis that reoccurs and includes mouth ulcers is called recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and is the most common disease affecting the mouth area, with around 5-25 percent of the United States population affected in some way.
Contents of this article:
Different types of stomatitis
1. Causes
2. Symptoms
3. Diagnosis
4. Treatment
5. Prevention
Different types of stomatitis
There are two main types of stomatitis:
Canker sores
These are also known as aphthous ulcers and are part of the most common cause of stomatitis. The sores are pale white or yellowish in color with a red outer ring.
Canker sores can develop singly or in a cluster and usually occur on the inside of the lips or cheek, or on the tongue.
Canker sores lead to acute, temporary pain. In minor cases, which are the most usual, the ulcers heal within 4-14 days. In more severe cases, which account for about 1 in 10 of all cases of stomatitis, the sores can last up to 6 weeks.
Anyone can get canker sores, although women and people in their teens and 20s are more likely to experience them. They can run in families but are not contagious.
Cold sores
Cold sores are small, painful, fluid-filled sores that usually occur on or around the lips near the edge of the mouth. Caused by the herpes virus (HSV), the condition is also known as herpes stomatitis.
A person may experience a tingling or burning sensation before the sore appears, as well as tenderness. Cold sores dry up and crust over with a yellow-colored scab.
Cold sores tend to last for around 5-7 days and can keep coming back. They are also very contagious.
Stomatitis can be broken down into different categories, depending on which area of the mouth is affected:
Cheilitis - inflammation of the lips and around the mouth
Glossitis - inflammation of the tongue
Gingivitis - inflammation of the gums
Pharyngitis - inflammation of the back of the mouth
Causes
Stomatitis can be caused by a variety of different factors, which may overlap with each other at the same time. Often it will be due to injury, infection, allergy, or skin disease.
The most common causes are:
Trauma from ill-fitting dentures or braces, biting the inside of the cheek, tongue, or lip, and surgery
Chemotherapy treatment for cancer
Viral infection, such as herpes
Yeast infection, such as thrush
Any condition associated with xerostomia, or dry mouth
Smoking or chewing to***co
Other examples include:
Bacterial infections
Sexually transmitted infections
Weakened or deficient immune system
Irritation from strong chemicals
Stress
Certain diseases, including Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, and lupus
Medications, including sulfa drugs, anti-epileptics, and some antibiotics
Nutritional deficiencies
Allergic reactions
Burns caused by hot food and drink
It is important to identify the cause of stomatitis in order to treat it properly.
Symptoms
Stomatitis often results in pain, stinging, and soreness. Each person may experience different Symptoms. These can include:
Mouth ulcers with a white or yellow layer and red base, usually inside the lips, cheek, or on the tongue
Red patches
Blisters
Swelling
Oral dysaesthesia - a burning feeling in the mouth
Lesions that heal in 4-14 days and often recur
Diagnosis
Diagnosis will depend entirely on what is causing the stomatitis. Relevant investigations include a physical examination, as doctors can learn a lot by looking at the appearance and distribution of ulcers.
Other tests might include:
Swabs, both bacterial and viral
Tissue scrapings or swabs for fungal infections
Biopsy or the removal of cells or tissue for further study
Blood tests
Patch tests to identify allergy
A doctor will also look at a person's medical history to see if a current or previous medication has caused the stomatitis. The doctor will also ask a person about their s*xual history and whether they have ever smoked.
Other conditions can cause stomatitis, so investigation and diagnosis are vital to ensure the doctor gives the correct treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for stomatitis will depend on the cause. Treating the root cause is important for stomatitis caused by the following:
Allergy: If caused by an allergic reaction, then the doctor will try to identify what the allergy is and look to eliminate its effects.
Infection: Stomatitis caused by an infection may require specialized treatment and medications depending on what the infection is.
Disease: If a specific disease causes stomatitis, a doctor will aim to identify this and treat it.
Nutritional deficiency: A doctor can identify and address nutritional problems with medication or diet.
Topical treatment
Topical treatments applied directly to the skin have been found to help lessen the pain and speed up healing. Types of topical treatment include:
Topical corticosteroids: Often a rinse, these aim to eliminate symptoms to allow the person to eat, drink, and speak without pain or discomfort.
Topical antibiotics: These are usually in gel or rinse format and have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.
Topical anesthetics: These are numbing medications, mostly available by prescription that people can apply directly to the sores for temporary pain relief.
Kanka: An over-the-counter product that provides a barrier layer to mouth sores, giving temporary pain relief.
Prevention
There are basic precautions that people can take to try and stop stomatitis returning, such as:
Using an antiseptic and non-alcoholic mouthwash
Treating chronic dry mouth
Using a soft toothbrush
Maintaining proper nutrition and hydration
Receiving routine dental care

Children shorter if they drink non-cow's milk.

A new study of more than 5,000 children has associated consumption of non-cow's milk with shorter height, raising concerns about the nutritional content of cow's milk alternatives.
Researchers found that children who consume non-cow's milk may be shorter than average for their age, compared with children who drink cow's milk.
Furthermore, the study revealed that the greater children's intake of non-cow's milk, the shorter they are likely to be.
Lead study author Dr. Jonathon Maguire, of St. Michael's Hospital in Canada, and colleagues recently reported their findings in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the advice is that cow's milk should not be given to children under the age of 1 year, as it lacks many of the required nutrients. What is more, the protein and fat in cow's milk is hard for babies to digest.
For children over the age of 1 year, however, cow's milk is considered beneficial for the developing brain and bone health, due to its high content of fat, protein, and calcium.
Studies have also associated cow's milk consumption in childhood with increased height. The new study supports this association, after finding that children who drink non-cow's milk are likely to be shorter.
Each cup of non-cow's milk linked to shorter height
Dr. Maguire and team came to their findings by analyzing the data of 5,034 children aged 24 to 72 months who were a part of the Canadian Applied Research Group for Kids cohort.
The researchers looked at each child's daily intake of cow's milk, as well as their daily intake of non-cow's milk, such as soy milk and almond milk.
Cow's milk was consumed on a daily basis by 92 percent of the children, while 13 percent of the children drank non-cow's milk every day.
Compared with children who consumed cow's milk, those who drank non-cow's milk were shorter than average for their age; for every 250-milliliter cup of non-cow's milk consumed daily, children were an average of 0.4 centimeters shorter.
For each cup of cow's milk consumed daily, however, children were an average of 0.2 centimeters taller.
The team identified a height difference of 1.5 centimeters for a 3-year-old who drank three cups of non-cow's milk daily, compared with a 3-year-old who consumed three cups of cow's milk every day.
The researchers also identified shorter-than-average height among children who drank a combination of cow's milk and non-cow's milk, suggesting that cow's milk does not offset the link between non-cow's milk and reduced height.
Nutritional content of non-cow's milk may be to blame
The study was not designed to pinpoint the underlying mechanisms for the link between non-cow's milk intake and shorter height, but the researchers suggest that it might be down to the lower levels of protein in non-cow's milk.
As an example, Dr. Maguire notes that two cups of cow's milk contain around 16 grams of protein, which is 100 percent of the daily protein recommendation for a 3-year-old child. In comparison, two cups of almond milk contain just 4 grams of protein.
"The nutritional content of cow's milk is regulated in the United States and Canada, while the nutritional contents of most non-cow's milks are not," says Dr. Maguire. "The lack of regulation means the nutritional content varies widely from one non-cow's milk product to the next, particularly in the amount of protein and fat."
Given that childhood consumption of non-cow's milk is on the rise - due to allergies and perceived health benefits - the researchers believe that there should be increased focus on the nutritional content of such products.
"If products are being marketed as being equivalent to cow's milk, as a consumer and a parent, I would like to know that they are in fact the same in terms of their effect on children's growth," says Dr. Maguire.

Moderate alcohol consumption linked to brain decline
A new study concludes that even moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a raised risk of faster decline in brain health and mental function. The researchers say that their findings support the United Kingdom's recent tightening of guidance on alcohol and question the limits given in the United States guidelines. Alcohol consumption is a recognized global public health issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "5.1 percent of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol." In 2010, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution urging countries to "strengthen national responses to public health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol."The U.K. government recently tightened their guidance on alcohol consumption, following new evidence of links to cancer. They suggest that men and women "are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level." This is roughly the amount of alcohol contained in four pints of strong beer or five large glasses of 14 percent wine. However, the researchers behind the new study note that the U.S. guidelines allow a higher limit for men of 24.5 units per week.
'Higher risk of hippocampal atrophy'
In their study paper, in which they discuss the rationale for their investigation, the researchers explain that a link between heavy drinking and adverse brain health - including dementia and degeneration of brain tissue - has already been well established. However, fewer studies have examined the relationship between moderate drinking and brain health, and their evidence is largely inconsistent. Therefore, the team decided to investigate whether or not there is a link between moderate alcohol consumption and brain changes by analyzing 30 years worth of data (collected between 1985 and 2015) on 550 healthy men and women who took part in the Whitehall II Study. The participants were aged 43 on average when they started the study and none of them were alcohol dependent. The data included information about weekly alcohol consumption and regular measures of brain function and mental performance. The participants also had an MRI brain scan at the end of the study. When they analyzed the data, the researchers found that higher alcohol intake over the 30-year study period was tied to a higher risk of atrophy or tissue degeneration in the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that is important for spatial orientation and memory. They found that the link remained after taking into account factors that might influence it. These included s*x, age, years of education, socioeconomic status, social and physical activity, medical history, smoking status, and stroke risk.
Moderate alcohol linked to three times greater risk of atrophy
However, while the participants whose alcohol intake exceeded 30 units per week had the highest risk of hippocampal atrophy (as expected), the analysis also showed a link to moderate alcohol consumption, which they defined as 14 to 21 units per week. Compared with people who did not drink, people who drank moderately showed a three times higher risk of hippocampal atrophy. The researchers also found that, compared with abstinence, light drinking - defined as no more than 7 units per week - offered no protective effect against hippocampal atrophy. The brain scan data also showed evidence of greater deterioration in white matter with higher alcohol consumption. White matter integrity is important for mental ability. Language fluency also declined faster with higher alcohol consumption. This is tested by asking people to give as many words starting with a particular letter as they can within the space of 1 minute. However, decline in neither word recall nor semantic fluency was linked to higher alcohol consumption. Semantic fluency is tested by asking people to recall as many words in a particular category as they can within the space of 1 minute.
Questions idea that 'normal' drinking does no harm
While the study was not designed to show cause and effect, the results cannot be taken as proof that moderate drinking hastens brain decline. The authors suggest that further studies should now be done to confirm their findings. Two strong points that could be argued as placing the study in the robust category are the amount of detailed data on potential influencing factors, and that alcohol consumption was measured regularly over a long period. The authors suggest that their findings support the idea that alcohol might be a "modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment, and primary prevention interventions targeted to later life could be too late." Because alcohol consumption affects a large proportion of the population, the implications for public health could be significant, they conclude. In an editorial comment about the findings, Killian Welch, a consultant neuropsychiatrist from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in the U.K., says that they support the "argument that drinking habits many regard as normal have adverse consequences for health." "With publication of this paper," he adds, "justification of 'moderate' drinking on the grounds of brain health becomes a little harder."
The authors of the study paper conclude:
"Our findings support the recent reduction in U.K. safe limits and call into question the current U.S. guidelines, which suggest that up to 24.5 units a week is safe for men, as we found increased odds of hippocampal atrophy at just 14-21 units a week, and we found no support for a protective effect of light consumption on brain structure."

Drinking coffee and tea may prevent liver disease

Cirrhosis, or chronic liver disease, is a serious condition and a leading cause of death among people across the United States. To prevent it, new research recommends that we simply take a break and enjoy a cup of tea. Chronic liver disease currently ranks as the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S., with almost 32,000 people dying from it every year. Liver-related death is often the result of cirrhosis. Although a large number of cirrhosis cases are caused by long-term alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can also lead to cirrhosis. Fortunately, there are quite a few things that we can do to protect our liver. Apart from avoiding alcohol, maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle may ward off obesity, which is a risk factor for a fatty liver. New research, published in the Journal of Hepatology, adds a couple of new preventive factors to the list: tea and coffee. A team of scientists led by Sarwa Darwish Murad, Ph.D., a hepatologist at the Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, set out to examine the impact of coffee and tea consumption on liver health. Dr. Murad explains the motivation behind the research "There is quite some epidemiological, but also experimental data suggesting that coffee has health benefits on liver enzyme elevations, viral hepatitis, NAFLD, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. [...] We were curious to find out whether coffee consumption would have a similar effect on liver stiffness measurements in individuals without chronic liver disease.” Studying the link between tea, coffee, and liver health. Dr. Murad and team examined the data available on 2,424 participants from a large cohort study called the Rotterdam Study. The study participants were 45 years old and above, and they lived in Rotterdam.
As part of the study, each participant underwent a full physical checkup, which included anthropometric measurements such as body mass index (BMI), height, blood tests, and abdominal scans for examining the liver. The liver imaging was used to look for liver "stiffness," a measurement that is high when the liver is scarred. Liver scarring, also known as progressive fibrosis, can ultimately lead to cirrhosis if left untreated. The participants' food and drinking habits were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire comprising 389 questions, including detailed items about tea and coffee intake. Participants were divided into three categories according to their coffee and tea drinking patterns: no consumption, moderate tea and coffee consumption (defined as up to three cups per day), and frequent consumption (defined as three or more cups each day). Tea was divided into green, black, and herbal. Dr. Murad and colleagues applied regression analysis to study the link between coffee and tea consumption and liver fibrosis. They also accounted for a variety of possible confounding factors, including age, gender, BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as physical activity and healthy eating patterns. The study revealed that frequent coffee and herbal tea consumption consistently correlated with a significantly lower risk of liver stiffness. These results were independent of lifestyle factors or BMI. Additionally, the researchers found that the beneficial effect of coffee on liver stiffness could be seen both in participants who had a fatty liver and those who did not. This indicated to the authors that frequent coffee and tea intake may prevent liver fibrosis long before the signs of liver disease start to appear. Dr. Louise J. M. Alferink, of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Erasmus MC University Medical Centre and lead author of the study, explains the significance of the findings in the context of the so-called Western diet:
"This [diet] is typically rich in unhealthy foods including processed foods lacking nutrients and artificial sugars. [...] In this context, examining accessible and inexpensive lifestyle strategies that have potential health benefits, such as coffee and tea consumption, is a viable approach to finding ways to halt the rapid increase of liver disease in developed countries."