Coffee Doesn’t Actually Stress You Out

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Are you a big fan of coffee? [music] Can't function without it? But first coffee? Well, you might be in luck because scientists [music] just discovered more ways coffee can be good for you. A recent study by APC Microbiome Ireland Research Centre at University College Cork explored how regular coffee consumption influences the gut-brain axis, [music] the communication network that connects our digestive system with brain activity.

[00:00:23]And the results reveal a highly complex interaction [music] that goes far beyond caffeine. Scientists compared 31 healthy adults who regularly consume coffee between three to five cups a day with 31 non-coffee drinkers. They found that coffee consumption modifies the composition of the intestinal microbiome. In regular drinkers, changes were detected in the abundance of certain bacteria, suggesting that coffee favors specific microorganisms which contribute to the elimination of harmful intestinal [music] bacteria, preventing infections. Scientists also analyzed what happens [music] when people stop drinking coffee, testing with both caffeinated and decaf coffee. While the first days were accompanied by headaches and fatigue, coffee drinkers saw lower levels of impulsiveness and emotional reactivity. [music] The reintroduction of either kind after two weeks reduced perceived stress and certain indicators of depression. And while caffeinated coffee was also associated with improvements in anxiety and attention, decaf showed benefits in memory, sleep quality, and physical activity. Finally, the study found that coffee consumers had lower levels of inflammatory markers and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules. No considerable difference in physiological stress via cortisol was measured, suggesting that at least under normal conditions, coffee does not actually substantially alter the body's response to stress, even if it may influence the perception of it.