How Coffee Can Make You Happier
With 83 percent of U.S. adults drinking coffee these days, it is safe to say that coffee puts a smile on many faces in the country and throughout the world. And, what’s not to love? The variety of rich flavors, the quick energy-boost, and that comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. For many of us, coffee plays a huge role in our happiness. Whether the reason is scientific or not, there are plenty of ways in which coffee can make a person happier:
Coffee’s Impact on the Brain
When it first came out that coffee could reduce the risk of depression in adult women, scientists rushed to find out the cause. As it turns out, there is a very good reason why coffee can make people happy. Scientific studies have revealed that the large amounts of caffeine in coffee stimulates the release of dopamine, also known as the “feel-good” hormone. Dopamine plays a key role in our mental health and produces the pleasure feelings that make us happy. It may help cure your depressive symptoms, but make sure that you don’t overdo it on the caffeine, as this can have a negative effective in the long-term.
Coffee Brings People Together
Coffee has been bringing people together since at least the 1500s and was popularly used for political gatherings. Even today, as the 2016 election is in full swing, presidential hopefuls often meet with constituents and discuss important topics over coffee. Those of us who do not have political aspirations use coffee as a way to catch up with friends or to share important news. Old coffee shops also used to be places where people would gather to hear stories that would be passed down from generation to generation. Today, some of us still share these stories over a cup of joe and use coffee to bond with our friends and family. This social bonding has its own share of benefits to our well-being.
It Tastes Good!
Perhaps an obvious—yet understated—reason for why coffee makes us happier is because it tastes so good. Well, this is assuming that you are drinking the good stuff, such as 1st in Coffee’s Organic Peruvian Chanchamayo coffee, and not that horrible stuff at your local gas station. There is nothing better than a freshly roasted cup of coffee that your taste buds just can’t get enough of.
It Benefits Your Overall Health
A healthy person is much more likely to be happy than an unhealthy person, and coffee offers a surprising amount of health benefits. For one, coffee is full of antioxidants that help fight off free radicals which harm the body by damaging cells. In fact, coffee provides more antioxidants in the American diet than any other food group. Other health benefits include improving your mood, boosting brain function, and an increase in longevity. With this many health benefits, it’s no wonder that coffee makes so many people happier.
It Can Be Relaxing
Some people may be wondering how coffee can make a person more relaxed, considering its reputation for making people alert and even on edge in some serious cases. However, coffee lovers can find the entire process—from grinding their beans to brewing their cup of joe—extremely relaxing. Those who have woken up on a Saturday morning and made themselves a cup of coffee while reading the paper know exactly how relaxing coffee can be. There are few things more enjoyable than taking your time to make your own coffee and enjoy every sip.
Coffee Helps Us Stay Productive
We know that happy people are more productive, but it can also work in reverse, as well. For instance, if you get to the end of the day and realize that you haven’t accomplished much at all, it can significantly decrease your mood. On the flip side, those who are productive may be more likely to be in a better mood at the end of the day. Without a doubt, coffee has helped many people stay productive and push through their weekly workload.
Drink to Your Happiness!
From improving our health to boosting our productivity, coffee has proven that it’s much more than a simple beverage. Coffee brings happiness into the lives of people every day, and its health benefits are only part of what make it so great. So drink up, and enjoy every last sip of happiness your next cup of coffee brings.
1 Comment
I’ve never followed a coffee blog before, but am excited now by the impacts of coffee on health you have told in this article! so going for the coffee break now 🙂