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Your daily cup of coffee could boost mood and brain function, even without the caffeine kick. New research suggests that both regular and decaf coffee may provide benefits for the gut, emotional health, and behavior. Scientists found that changes in stress and emotional well-being were connected to shifts in gut bacteria and specific metabolites, with benefits appearing in both regular and decaf coffee drinkers.
This study supports earlier research linking coffee and tea consumption to a lower risk of dementia and cognitive decline. It also compared caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, allowing researchers to examine whether caffeine played a key role.
Researchers studied 62 participants that included 31 coffee drinkers and 31 non-coffee drinkers, with coffee consumers drinking 3 to 5 cups a day. All participants completed psychological tests, kept food and caffeine diaries, and submitted stool and urine samples to help scientists measure changes in gut health, mood, and stress.
After the initial testing, the non-coffee drinkers took no further part in the study. Regular coffee drinkers then avoided coffee and all other caffeine sources for 14 days before reintroducing coffee for 21 days. Half were assigned caffeinated coffee and half decaf, in a blinded setup.
After abstaining from coffee for two weeks, participants experienced mood improvements when they began drinking coffee again, whether caffeinated or decaf. Regular coffee was tied to lower anxiety and sharper attention, while decaf was linked to better memory, learning, activity levels, and sleep.
Researchers also found that coffee drinkers had higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria, including microbes that help protect against harmful bacteria and stomach infections. The findings suggest coffee may positively influence both the gut microbiome and neurological health, with potential long-term benefits.
Although more studies are needed, growing evidence suggests coffee may support mental and physical health by lowering stress, boosting mood, and possibly reducing symptoms of depression.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Habitual coffee intake shapes the gut microbiome and modifies host physiology and cognition
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