Coffee alters gut microbiome and may boost mood and cognition, study finds
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Coffee can do more than just keep you going: Even if you drink it decaf, it can have a noticeable impact on your digestive health.
Researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland found that habitual coffee consumption alters the trillions of microbes living in the digestive tract, creating a chemical feedback loop that directly affects mood, stress levels and cognitive acuity.
The study followed 62 participants to determine how coffee interacts with the microbiome. The group included 31 coffee drinkers and 31 non-coffee drinkers who underwent a series of psychological tests and kept detailed diaries about their diet and coffee consumption.
DAILY DIET SODA MAY BE AGING YOUR BRAIN FASTER THAN YOU THOUGHT, STUDY SHOWS
The researchers defined “coffee drinkers” as people who consumed three to five cups per day, a range considered safe and moderate by the European Food Safety Authority.
According to a press release, after people stopped drinking coffee for two weeks and started drinking it again, the bacteria in their digestive systems behaved differently than in non-drinkers.
“This is a complex nutritional factor that interacts with our gut microbes, our metabolism, and even our emotional health.” (iStock)
“Coffee is more than just caffeine,” study author Professor John Cryan, principal investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland, said in a statement.
“This is a complex nutritional factor that interacts with our gut microbes, our metabolism, and even our emotional health.”
COMMON SWEETTEN MAY TRIGGER FAT BUILDING IN WAYS EXPERTS UNEXPECTED
Coffee drinkers were found to have higher levels of specific beneficial bacteria such as Eggertella and Cryptobacterium curtum.
These microbes play a vital role in the release of stomach acids and bile formation, both of which help the body eliminate harmful bacteria and manage inflammation, the researchers noted.
Coffee’s non-caffeinated components, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, may be doing the heavy lifting for mental health. (iStock)
Both caffeinated and decaffeinated drinkers reported lower levels of perceived stress, depression, and impulsivity. This suggests that coffee’s non-caffeinated components, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, do the heavy lifting in terms of mental health.
CLICK FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS
However, the two types of beer offer different advantages. Caffeinated coffee has been specifically associated with reduced anxiety and better focus, while decaffeinated coffee has been shown to lead to significant improvements in learning and episodic memory.
CLICK TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Researchers believe these cognitive gains in decaffeinated drinkers may be due to better sleep quality and increased physical activity.
Caffeinated coffee, in particular, was associated with reduced anxiety and better focus, while decaffeinated coffee led to significant improvements in learning and episodic memory. (iStock)
The study’s findings are limited by a small sample size that may not accurately represent the diverse microbiome profiles found in different global populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The researchers noted that because the study relied heavily on participants’ self-reported data regarding their coffee habits and moods, the results were subject to memory errors and subjective bias.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The study also did not tightly control for other dietary variables, such as sugar and dairy additives, that may independently affect gut health and obscure the specific effect of coffee beans.
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
