Khaberni - Many strive to achieve a healthy balance between the benefits of coffee and maintaining their mental stability, but the appropriate amount often remains a question.
A recent study has revealed that moderate coffee drinking may be key to enhancing mental health, identifying the optimal amount that helps to stay alert without experiencing negative side effects.
Researchers in China relied on health data for about 500,000 people from the UK Biobank with an average age of 57 years, 54% of whom were women. They studied the relationship between daily coffee consumption and the occurrence of mood disorders such as depression, or stress-related disorders like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Participants were followed for 13 years, during which thousands of cases of mood and stress disorders were recorded.
Results showed that individuals who drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily are least likely to suffer from these disorders. This effect included various types of coffee, whether regular, instant, or decaffeinated, suggesting that the benefit may be due to coffee components themselves, not just caffeine alone.
Conversely, those who drink lesser amounts showed no significant improvement in their mental health, while consuming more than three cups daily was associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and stress disorders.
The researchers explained these results by suggesting that moderate consumption is most beneficial, whereas both excessive or reduced intake do not achieve the same positive effect.
The data further indicated that 71% of the participants regularly drink coffee, and those consuming 2 to 3 cups daily were less susceptible to these disorders by 10% to 20% compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Researchers believe these benefits could be due to "polyphenols" found in coffee, which help reduce inflammation and protect brain cells, alongside coffee's role in stimulating dopamine production, a neurotransmitter that enhances mood and alleviates anxiety.
Coffee may also play a positive social role, often associated with meetings with friends, which in turn reflects on improving mental state.
Despite these findings, the researchers emphasized that the study only shows a correlation and is not definite proof of a causal relationship, pointing out the need for more research. They also noted that individual differences in caffeine tolerance make the optimal amount unsuitable for everyone.
The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
