Coffee is a Powerful Antioxidant

Research has shown that people suffering from low mood and depression have higher levels of oxidation in their bodies than people with good mental health. Specifically, depressed people were shown to have fewer antioxidant foods in their diet. This includes coffee. Coffee is extremely high in antioxidants and is in fact the most consumed source of antioxidants in the western world today. Experts attribute the high concentration of antioxidants in coffee to its ability to act as an effective mood-enhancer.

Coffee Has Anti-inflammatory Properties

Those suffering worse-than-average mental health have been shown to have elevated levels of inflammatory markers in their blood. Again, much like the SSRIs that are often prescribed to people with depression, drinking coffee every day has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and thus to decrease both the likelihood and the intensity of depression and other negative emotional states.

Caffeine Acts Similar to SSRI Drugs

Like most prescribed antidepressants, caffeine blocks receptors in the brain from binding with a chemical called adenosine that is strongly correlated to fatigue and depression. Without getting too scientific, suffice to say that research has shown that people who drink more coffee have more adenosine in their blood, which in turn suggests that the chemical has been blocked from absorption in the brain. Remember that not all caffeine is created equal - whilst the caffeine in coffee can really help to elevate your mood, if you’re getting most of your caffeine from fizzy drinks, the added sugar could make your mental health worse.

Coffee is a Great Source of Prebiotics

In scientific circles, the gut is colloquially referred to as “the second brain”. This is because the make-up of the gut microbiome has an incredible impact on brain health and mental wellbeing. A happy gut = a happy mind. Prebiotics are microorganisms that feed the probiotics that feed your microbiome! It sounds complicated but all you need to know is that increased consumption of prebiotics has been shown to drastically improve gut health which, in turn, drastically improves mood and mental wellbeing. And coffee is one of the best sources of prebiotics out there.

To learn more about the health benefits of coffee, discover our most popular blog post here. Or, alternatively, head straight to it and shop here to experience the mood-boosting effects of a daily cup for yourself.