Study Shows Even More Reasons Why Coffee is Good for You
Coffee is the go-to beverage for people in the morning. But many regular coffee drinkers have three or four more cups during the day. While consuming that much coffee everyday could be thought of as bad for you, the opposite is true.
A recent study conducted at a research center of the University of Cork in Ireland, which was published in the journal Nature, looked at how drinking many cups of coffee daily could influence the gut-brain axis, according to Wired. The gut-brain axis is the body’s communication network that connects your brain and your digestive system.
While scientists have long been aware of the health benefits of coffee, the mechanisms behind coffee’s effects on the gut-brain axis were not known. The researchers decided to find out.
About the Study
The scientists investigated this connection by closely monitoring 31 coffee drinkers and 31 non-coffee drinkers, according to a University of Cork news release, and they measured caffeine and food diaries, psychological tests, as well as stool and urine samples. They used these tests to understand changes in the participants’ microbiome and mood.
First, none of the participants consumed any coffee for two-weeks and were assessed. Afterwards, coffee was given to the regular drinkers in a blind test. Half of the coffee consumers were given regular coffee and half decaf.
Both groups reported lower stress levels and better moods. The researchers also found that healthy gut bacteria were increased in all coffee drinkers but not in the non-coffee drinkers.
“Our findings reveal the microbiome and neurological responses to coffee, as well as their potential long-term benefits for a healthier microbiome,” corresponding author of the study, Professor John Cryan said in the news release.
“Coffee may modify what microbes do collectively, and what metabolites they use. As the public continues to think about dietary changes for the right digestive balance, coffee has the potential to also be harnessed as a further intervention as part of a healthy balanced diet.”
Surprising Effects of Coffee
There were some differences between the two groups, people who drank caffeinated coffee showed improvements in anxiety and attention span while those who drank decaf showed benefits in sleep quality and memory, according to Wired.
But what was truly unexpected was the fact that the changes in the microbiome occurred whether people drank coffee with or without caffeine. This shows that coffee is a complex mixture of compounds and that caffeine is just one of them.
The results show that drinking coffee is even better for you than previously thought. It can benefit your gut and be an effective part of a healthy, balanced diet. So, lift your cup of Joe and toast to your health.
