Coffee has long been part of daily routines, comfort breaks, and morning rituals, especially for people who rely on it to get through busy days. In recent years, it has also gained a reputation as a surprising ally for liver health. Yet despite its benefits, instant coffee has suddenly found itself at the centre of alarming claims online, with influencers warning that it could increase cancer risk.
Medical research tells a different story. Data from the National Institutes of Health shows that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day can protect against the progression of nearly all types of liver disease. Many doctors even suggest that coffee may help slow down or improve fatty liver disease, making it one of the most studied beverages in liver health.
So where did the cancer scare come from? On February 4, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist with over 10 years of experience, addressed the issue in an Instagram video. He explained that the fear around instant coffee is largely based on misinformation and missing context.
According to gastroenterologist, instant coffee does contain acrylamide, a compound that forms during high-heat processing. However, the quantity present in instant coffee is extremely low. He explained that reaching harmful levels would require consuming seven to ten instant coffee sachets in a single day, or drinking coffee continuously for nearly 20 to 25 hours, which is highly unrealistic for most people.
He further clarified that while instant coffee contains slightly more acrylamide than freshly brewed or ground coffee, the average coffee drinker typically consumes only two to three cups a day. At that level, the risk posed by acrylamide is considered negligible and not something that should cause panic.
The gastroenterologist also highlighted the well-documented benefits of regular black coffee consumption, including a lower risk of fatty liver, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. He stressed that moderation matters far more than fear and advised people to enjoy two to four cups daily without worrying about viral myths.
In short, instant coffee isn’t the danger it’s being made out to be, and science continues to back coffee as a friend to your liver when consumed sensibly.
