Drinking a Cup of Coffee Can Alleviate Your Depression
An
old Bourbon Proverb reads, “To an old man a cup of coffee is like the
door post of an old house — it sustains and strengthens him”. In our
fast-paced lives it has become almost habitual to reach for the nearest
mass-manufactured supplement or pharmaceutical to treat our ailments and
improve our well-being. At present, more than
16.1 million American adults are
affected by depression and while there are countless conventional
preventative and treatment therapies available, you might already have a
very effective and more natural cure in
your own kitchen: coffee. Coffee has long been touted to have
countless benefits with one of the most impressive being its ability to
uplift moods and combat depression.
Coffee can do more than just enhance your mood
Most coffee drinkers will validate that starting the day with a cup of freshly-brewed coffee can
notably improve ones mood. A number of studies, such as one conducted
by researchers at the Qingdao University Medical College in China found
that coffee can, in actual fact, contribute towards the prevention of
mild to moderate depression. The results of the study suggest that there
is an 8% reduced risk of developing depression for every cup of coffee
consumed per day. Similar results were obtained from research conducted
by the
Harvard School of Public Health that
found that drinking between 2 and 4 cups of coffee a day could reduce
the risk of depression amongst women by as much as 20%.
How does coffee combat depression?
The
power of coffee as an anti-depressant lies in the combination of
caffeine, phytochemicals and antioxidants that are found in it. The
caffeine contained in coffee is a renowned stimulant that affects the
adenosine receptors in the brain, resulting in a possible decreased risk
of depression. It is also believed that coffee is able to make dopamine
more effective by binding to the adenosine receptors, increasing the
amount of dopamine that binds to the various dopamine receptors in the
striatum.
Are all coffees equally effective anti-depressants?
Unfortunately,
not all coffees were created equal. If you want to reap the full
health benefits of a cup of java you need to ensure that it is of a
high-quality (and organic if possible). Although there are some good
instant coffees on the market as well, the cheaper varieties are often
filled with a lot of hidden ingredients such as chicory, maltose and
dextrose that can be of more damage than good to your health in the
long-run. It is also important to remember that coffee will only benefit
your depression (and general health) when consumed in moderation. Aim
to not drink more than 4 or 5 cups of coffee a day, and try to avoid
drinking it too late in the afternoon as it can impact your sleeping
patterns.
The
next time you feel your mood dipping, try reaching for a cup or two of
coffee before grabbing an artificial mood-enhancer. If at any point you
experience negative side-effects that could be linked to your coffee
consumption, cut down or stop your consumption and seek out professional
medical assistance if the symptoms persist. Coffee can be of great
benefit to countless people but it important to remember that it does
not have the same effect on everyone - what works for some might not
work for you, regardless of how much you would like it to.
More coffee facts located at The Good (and Bad) Health Effects of Coffee.
More healthy coffee benefits.
Check out the perfect water to coffee ratio!
