New Research links coffee consumption to reduced stress and increased cognition

Science says it! Drinking coffee makes you smarter. Well, maybe it isn’t quite that simple, but new research from the University of Cork in Ireland looked at how the consumption of coffee (caffeinated or otherwise) can lead to reduced feelings of anxiety, as well as improved attention by linking microbiota in the coffee to the gut-brain axis. 

In the study 31 coffee drinkers and 31 non-coffee drinkers were closely studied through a series of tests. Participants eliminated coffee from their diets for two weeks and then it was blind-reintroduced with half consuming decaf and the other, full caf. The results of the study were super interesting. Both groups reported lower stress, and lower depression, suggesting that drinking coffee significantly improved mood, regardless of caffeine content. But the caffeinated drinkers showed increases of Eggertella' and 'Cryptobacterium curtum' bacteria, both of which play a key role in eliminating unhealthy gut bacteria and stomach infections.

The study also shows that coffee is more than just a vehicle for caffeine, it’s a complex system of microbes. A notable improvement in learning and memory was found only in those who consumed decaffeinated coffee, suggesting that components other than caffeine, such as polyphenols, could be responsible for the cognitive benefits. 

“Our findings suggest that coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can influence health in distinct but complementary ways.” said professor John Cryan, the author of the study and Principal Investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland.

If you’d like to read the full scientific article you can access it here: Habitual coffee intake shapes the gut microbiome and modifies host physiology and cognition. And hey, next time you pour yourself some Parliament Roasting coffee, remember you’re helping increase your brain and gut health! Thanks University of Cork!