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Coffee and Mood: The Connection
Is America's favorite hot beverage happiness in cup?
When I was growing up, I knew that the best time to approach my mom with a problem was when she had a steaming-hot cup of coffee in front of her. Coffee had this wondrous ability to transform her mood and demeanor, so that even if she were in a crowded, noisy room, she maintained the tranquility of one engulfed in a cozy armchair in front of a crackling fire.
As long as she had her coffee, she could receive news of disaster, or requests for large sums of money, with equilibrium. It seemed like magic to me, but studies show that there may in fact be solid scientific evidence backing the popular notion that coffee offers notable mood-enhancing benefits.
Though caffeine is known to increase energy levels, according to research, it does not increase levels of aggression.
In fact, studies show that those like my mother who are habitual coffee drinkers exhibit more overall friendliness towards others, and have a tendency to more readily overlook minor annoyances. They also feel more relaxed, sociable, and self-confident. This increased feeling of well-being is due to the impact caffeine has on the nervous system. It would take seven cups of tea, or cans of cola, to replicate the "high" that can be achieved from only two cups of coffee.
If you are reminded of another kind of beverage that produces pleasant sensations, you wouldn't be too far off. The name "coffee" is derived from the Arabic word "al-quhwah", which means wine.
It was a young Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi, over a thousand years ago, who first discovered the slightly intoxicating coffee berry. His normally placid goats, after eating the berries, began to prance and play with new zest. Curious, the herder tried the berries himself, with similar results. Muslims, forbidden by the Quran from consuming alcohol, have long used coffee as a replacement for wine at feasts and religious ceremonies. In 1511 in the city of Mecca, coffee was a popular cure for depression. Interestingly, two Persian doctors attempted to have coffee banned, due to the fact that depressed patients turned to coffee, instead of to them, for relief.
Modern day scientific studies indicate that drinking coffee may indeed be a viable way to stave off depression.
The mood-elevating effects of coffee last longer than what can be achieved through alcohol or nicotine, and the negative effects are arguably less prominent. In fact, the March 11th, 1996, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine published a study indicating that women who drink at least two cups of coffee a day have less risk of committing suicide than non-coffee drinkers. Similar research has found that these results apply to men as well.
While new studies continue to show that coffee beans are rich in antioxidants and may fight everything from Type-2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease, to skin cancer and Alzheimer's (and even lower the risk of cavities!), it could be argued that the most valuable benefits received from coffee is increased well-being and happiness. After all, isn't happiness the key ingredient in attaining health and longevity?
For more information on coffee and mood, visit the EnvyMyHealth.com Nutrition Channel!
Have Something to Say about Coffee?
Do you agree/disagree? Have an experience to share? We want to hear from you!
When I was growing up, I knew that the best time to approach my mom with a problem was when she had a steaming-hot cup of coffee in front of her. Coffee had this wondrous ability to transform her mood and demeanor, so that even if she were in a crowded, noisy room, she maintained the tranquility of one engulfed in a cozy armchair in front of a crackling fire.
As long as she had her coffee, she could receive news of disaster, or requests for large sums of money, with equilibrium. It seemed like magic to me, but studies show that there may in fact be solid scientific evidence backing the popular notion that coffee offers notable mood-enhancing benefits.
Though caffeine is known to increase energy levels, according to research, it does not increase levels of aggression.
In fact, studies show that those like my mother who are habitual coffee drinkers exhibit more overall friendliness towards others, and have a tendency to more readily overlook minor annoyances. They also feel more relaxed, sociable, and self-confident. This increased feeling of well-being is due to the impact caffeine has on the nervous system. It would take seven cups of tea, or cans of cola, to replicate the "high" that can be achieved from only two cups of coffee.
If you are reminded of another kind of beverage that produces pleasant sensations, you wouldn't be too far off. The name "coffee" is derived from the Arabic word "al-quhwah", which means wine.
It was a young Ethiopian goat-herder named Kaldi, over a thousand years ago, who first discovered the slightly intoxicating coffee berry. His normally placid goats, after eating the berries, began to prance and play with new zest. Curious, the herder tried the berries himself, with similar results. Muslims, forbidden by the Quran from consuming alcohol, have long used coffee as a replacement for wine at feasts and religious ceremonies. In 1511 in the city of Mecca, coffee was a popular cure for depression. Interestingly, two Persian doctors attempted to have coffee banned, due to the fact that depressed patients turned to coffee, instead of to them, for relief.
Modern day scientific studies indicate that drinking coffee may indeed be a viable way to stave off depression.
The mood-elevating effects of coffee last longer than what can be achieved through alcohol or nicotine, and the negative effects are arguably less prominent. In fact, the March 11th, 1996, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine published a study indicating that women who drink at least two cups of coffee a day have less risk of committing suicide than non-coffee drinkers. Similar research has found that these results apply to men as well.
While new studies continue to show that coffee beans are rich in antioxidants and may fight everything from Type-2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease, to skin cancer and Alzheimer's (and even lower the risk of cavities!), it could be argued that the most valuable benefits received from coffee is increased well-being and happiness. After all, isn't happiness the key ingredient in attaining health and longevity?
For more information on coffee and mood, visit the EnvyMyHealth.com Nutrition Channel!
Have Something to Say about Coffee?
Do you agree/disagree? Have an experience to share? We want to hear from you!
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