How a Cup of Morning Coffee Affects Your Mood

So many people around the globe start their day with a cup of hot coffee. It’s one of those habits that unite us all, no matter where we live. Indeed, some people can’t even imagine spending their day without feeling the caffeine rushing through their blood. However, it’s fair to say that even the most avid coffee drinkers don’t always know the effect that caffeine has on our body, health, and mind.

Coffee is definitely one of the most debated beverages on the planet. For centuries, it was conquering one country after another only to become the center of the heated debates in our times. Some people argue that coffee can be bad for our health and can cause heart problems or increase anxiety. Others say that without coffee, they can’t feel fully awake and happy. The opinions about this beverage are drastically divided. 

So let’s see what truth those arguments carry. Here’s how a cup of morning coffee affects your mood and wellbeing throughout the day. 

Caffeine and mood

We have two main things to consider when it comes to caffeine and its effect on our mood. These are the science behind caffeine and personal habitual (or non-habitual) caffeine intake. For example, caffeine has a much more beneficial effect on people who drink their coffee regularly, at least once a day. Habitual drinking can reduce or wear off any negative caffeine effects. 

It has been proven that around 75mg of caffeine, which is an average amount per one cup of coffee, can positively affect one’s mood. One such dose every four hours can maintain a good mood throughout the day. How? Well, first, coffee can increase your alertness, kill morning fatigue, and increase vigor. Hence, after your first caffeine intake, you will feel stronger, more focused, and less irritated. 

What’s more, caffeine can improve our hedonic tone, a trait that has the capacity to define and feel pleasure. Over two cups of coffee per day (around 150mg of caffeine) can improve your ability to feel pleasure throughout the day. Hedonic tone also plays a crucial role in fighting depression, so it does not only improve your mood but protects your mental health. 

Caffeine and stress 

Many would argue that caffeine can cause anxiety and stress, all due to the same rise of the alterations. Indeed, caffeine has the power to activate the stress hormone Cortisol. However, there are a few things we should know before finalizing our judgment. First, cortisol raises naturally in the mornings and evenings. So people who don’t even drink coffee can feel a slight rise in anxiety in the morning. 

Secondly, coffee stimulates only a brief peak of cortisol production, which can hardly be noticeable to people and will not affect long-term health. What’s more, regular coffee drinkers will hardly have any rise of cortisol at all since their body is less sensitive to caffeine at this point. 

Caffeine and performance

The caffeine’s power to increase your alertness leads to a noticeable improvement in your cognitive performance. A person will simply feel more concentrated and sharp. The attention span of this person will also go up as a result of caffeine. However, in this case, irregular coffee drinkers will witness greater results than the rest of us, coffee lovers. Although caffeine will still affect our bodies, it will happen on a lesser scale. Though, all habitual coffee drinkers can benefit from their morning ritual in a different way. 

You might have noticed by now that many people associate caffeine with productivity. So often, people say, “Wait. I haven’t had my morning coffee yet, I can’t deal with anything.” It’s so common since people believe in the power of coffee to wake them up and give them the energy to face the world. Besides, many coffee lovers take great pride in making their coffee at home. Those preparations require precision, focus, and skills. People who start their day deciding on what coffee to make, assessing the advantages of turkish coffee vs espresso, will have an easier time getting ready for their days. 

The bottom line

As you can see, there is no certain way of how caffeine will affect your body and your mood. However, one thing can be said for sure. In moderation, caffeine intake will never harm you. Those who don’t drink over 2-3 cups of coffee per day have nothing to worry about. However, it’s important to remember that caffeine is widely present in a variety of products and not only in the coffee itself. Caffeine can be found in some sodas, energy drinks, tea, dark chocolate, and more. Hence, if you have any concerns about your caffeine intake, you should look at those products as well. 

In most cases, though, a nice cup of morning coffee can help you start your day on the right foot. Just thinking about this beautiful aroma and rich taste makes you want it now, doesn’t it?