Your morning coffee is putting pep in your step — and making you happier too
Research finds that people who drink coffee are usually in a better mood
- European researchers found that regular consumption of caffeinated beverages typically leads to an improved mood.
- Caffeine boosts mood and alertness by blocking adenosine receptors, which increases dopamine activity in crucial brain regions.
- The positive mood effect is more pronounced in the morning, although it is not definitively clear if this is linked to the reduction of withdrawal symptoms.
- The study, involving 236 young German adults, revealed consistent mood benefits across all participants, irrespective of their caffeine consumption habits, anxiety levels, or depressive symptoms.
- Despite the mood-enhancing effects, the researchers cautioned that caffeine can lead to dependence and is associated with health risks such as increased heart rate, anxiety, and sleep disturbances if consumed excessively or late in the day.