Scientists Discovered Coffee Doesn’t Actually Stress You Out

Are you a big fan of coffee?

Can't function without it?

But first, coffee?

Well, you might be in luck

because scientists just discovered more ways

coffee can be good for you.

A recent study by APC Microbiome Ireland research center

at University College Cork

explored how regular coffee consumption

influences the gut-brain axis,

the communication network

that connects our digestive system with brain activity.

And the results reveal a highly complex interaction

that goes far beyond caffeine.

Scientists compare 31 healthy adults

who regularly consume coffee,

between 3 to 5 cups a day,

with 31 non-coffee drinkers.

They found that coffee consumption modifies

the composition of the intestinal microbiome.

In regular drinkers,

changes were detected in the abundance of certain bacteria,

suggesting that coffee favors specific microorganisms

which contribute to the elimination

of harmful intestinal bacteria,

preventing infections.

Scientists also analyzed

what happens when people stop drinking coffee,

testing with both caffeinated and decaf coffee.

While the first days were accompanied

by headaches and fatigue,

coffee drinkers saw lower levels of impulsiveness

and emotional reactivity.

The reintroduction of either kind after two weeks

reduced perceived stress

and certain indicators of depression.

And while caffeinated coffee was also associated

with improvements in anxiety and attention,

decaf showed benefits in memory,

sleep quality, and physical activity.

Finally, the study found that coffee consumers

had lower levels of inflammatory markers

and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules.

No considerable difference in physiological stress

via cortisol was measured,

suggesting that at least under normal conditions,

coffee does not actually substantially alter

the body's response to stress,

even if it may influence the perception of it.