Is Coffee The Ultimate Mental and Brain Health Booster?

There is a reason why coffee is one of the world’s most consumed beverages. The beverage itself and the numerous cultural practices that surround coffee brings us joy throughout our day and improves our overall mental health! From the dark roasted cup on a cold, snowy December morning to the double pump, extra cream grande from your local coffee shop, I’d be bold enough to say that coffee is man’s best friend!

Nora Tobin, performance enhancement and executive coach, nutrition specialist and CEO of Nora’s Naturals coffee, elaborates on how coffee can cheer us up, while also improving focus and cognitive function to power through each day.

“Not only is it a delicious beverage to enjoy throughout the day, but coffee has also been shown to provide benefits to an individual’s mental health. This may be due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and microbiome-promoting effects. Caffeine has the ability to block receptors in the brain from binding with a chemical that leads to fatigue and a saddened mood. While there are many different ways to attend to one’s mood and overall mental health, many options can take time and planning. Getting a coffee to drink, however, can take a short amount of time. This is a great option to turn to if you need a quick pick-me-up when you are not feeling your best,” says Nora Tobin.

For this reason, I was extremely grateful to have multiple coffee shops on my college campus. After a long day of lectures and sitting in the library for several hours. I looked forward to my small cup of evening joe for a quick pick me up on my commute back home.

Nora goes on to say, “Coffee is a stimulant that speeds up the process of the central nervous system. When this process is sped up, it becomes easier for an individual to focus and stay sharp. This can be especially beneficial to individuals who may find themselves in situations of reduced alertness. Some examples of this may be driving overnight, working nights shits, pushing through sickness or suffering from jet lag. Drinking coffee can also block adenosine receptors from preventing the release of excitatory chemicals in the brain. Resultantly, the chemicals then are able to move more freely and provide an individual with a surge of energy. This energy surge will then help with an individual’s mental performance.”

Regular coffee consumption has also been linked with reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, boosts memory, cognitive function and focus. Add onto this the numerous other health benefits of coffee, it’s no wonder it’s considered by some to be a superfood.