Drinking about five cups of coffee everyday may halve the risk of developing the most common form of liver cancer.

Researchers from University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh in the UK found that the more coffee consumed the greater the protection against hepatocellular cancer (HCC). The protection was found to be the same for both existing coffee-drinkers and those who did not usually drink it.

HCC is the second leading cause of cancer death globally due to its poor prognosis and high frequency, especially in China and Southeast Asia. It mostly develops in people who are already suffering from chronic liver disease.