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Beat Depression with Coffee!


Drinking a Cup of Coffee Can Alleviate Your Depression

Coffee beats DepressionAn 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!

Article by Jennifer Dawson



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