Coffee has played a significant role in our everyday lives—from our morning cup to in between office breaks and to last night sip. Caffeine affects our mood in ways that any other beverages can’t as it helps us to be energized all throughout the day. Also, it helps us be awake to get things done when sleep lurks around alluring us to give in.
On the opposite side, there is depression that for some unknown reasons, makes it hard for others to get through the day. It can also make people stay up all throughout the night, but in a completely different reason than how caffeine works.
Coffee and Depression
According to studies, 15 percent of adults are affected by the most talked about mental illness today which is depression. The report stated that it is mainly those in high-income nations. The result of researches also suggests that it is associated with various dietary factors and different lifestyle. It can be because of the alcohol intake, smoking, and physical activity. Apparently, there is so much to it than being sad and feeling empty.
Those who are affected by depression are fed with negative feelings. People with depression lose the interest of the things and habits they usually loved and enjoyed. It basically affects someone from the way he feels, thinks, and acts. Depression can deviate from mild to severe, and some are even considered as high-functioning. These people can go and live their lives as anyone who is not struggling with this mental illness.
Some people may not even show any sign that they have depression. You will still see them going to work or school; doing what they can for a living. Meanwhile, there are others who can’t even get out of bed or take a bath. Some individuals even lose appetite, and there is either lack of sleep or too much of it. People with depression may go on with the day without you noticing any symptoms of the illness.
The experts say that transmission of both dopamine and serotonin contribute to depression as well. Serotonin is supposed to be the contributor to people’s feeling of happiness and well-being. On the other hand, dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for the reward-motivated behavior of humans. Since depression may be roughly defined as excessive sadness where people get demotivated, serotonin and dopamine might help alleviate it.
So, how is coffee intake connected to this mental illness? The famous beverage is said to contain caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and chlorogenic acid. These acids can reduce inflammation of the nerve cells in the brain of those people with depression.
Moreover, a medical college in China also conducted a line experiment on how coffee helps you get rid of depression.
Depression and Meta-Analysis
This observational study is called meta-analysis that aims to learn which links the adults’ consumption of caffeine to depression risk. It seeks to make clarifications for the link through a dose-response analysis. It covered 15 case-control, cross-sectional studies, and cohort. The study accumulated 330,677 participants.
According to this study, an increase in coffee intake and caffeine consumption can help reduce the risk of depression if:
- The caffeine consumption is above 68mg/day but not exceeding 509mg/day
The dose-response study reported that 8% decreased the risk for each cup that has been consumed per day.
However, despite this research, the relationship between depression and caffeine intake remains nonlinear. The experts’ strong argument about how coffee helps get rid of depression is the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals that are found in coffee. The relationship of the inflammation between the distress and discomfort caused by depression may be relieved through these substances.
Meanwhile, every positive result may come with unpleasant ones. To those people with underlying mental illnesses aside from depression, may not benefit from increased caffeine intake. These other mental illnesses may be mood disorders or anxiety, and its worse form, the heightened tension. The increase of caffeine intake may have a different outcome especially to those who encounter panic attacks often. It is best to know the health situation first before taking actions.
Caffeine Helps the Brain be Motivated
Why do you drink coffee or why you don’t drink it? Did it just become a habit since everyone else is drinking it? Do you really like the taste? A lot of coffee shops have surfaced because of the high demand for coffee. Some of these cafés are even open for 24/7 because drinking coffee is not for morning intake anymore.
For other people, they have their coffee every morning to boost their energy for the day. Most companies even have coffee breaks to get the employees to get through their work on a daily basis. Coffee helps the drinkers be motivated to work and do other things. If that is the case, it may reduce the demotivation feeling of those people who are suffering from depression. The coffee boost might help these people get on with the day while doing the most that they can.
Drinking coffee may also be a form of socialization now. People can get enjoy a drink without being drunk. It is essential for our human needs to have other relationship with the people around us, either romantic or platonic. People with depression should somehow feel that they belong and feel less lonely. Sharing a cup of coffee may help them feel like they matter because all they want is someone who listens.
Conclusion
Coffee is not the cure for depression; there is always a long way to go when it comes to medical research in mental health. There are lots of factors to consider both internal and external factors. For now, how coffee helps you get rid of depression may be something you want to consider.
Try to see for yourself if the rise in caffeine intake enables you to get better and have a clear mental state. However, if you feel more fidgety and restless, try to get a checked how your body deals with it. Every individual reacts differently, whether that is physically, emotionally, and mentally.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313988.php
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression