Coffee changes the gut microbiome and may boost mood and cognition, research has found

Coffee may do more than keep you going: It can have a noticeable effect on your digestive health, even if you drink decaf.

Researchers from APC Microbiome Ireland have found that regular coffee consumption alters the billions of bacteria that live in the digestive tract, creating a chemical feedback loop that directly affects mood, stress levels and cognitive acuity.

The study followed 62 participants to find out how coffee interacts with the microbiome. The group consisted of 31 coffee drinkers and 31 coffee drinkers, who went through a series of psychological tests and kept detailed journals about their food intake and coffee consumption.

YOUR DAILY DIET SODA COULD BE WEARING YOUR BRAIN FASTER THAN YOU THINK, RESEARCH FINDS.

The researchers defined “coffee drinkers” as those who consume three to five cups daily, a range that the European Food Safety Authority deems safe and moderate.

After people stopped drinking coffee for two weeks and then started drinking it again, the bacteria in their digestive system behaved differently than non-drinkers, according to a press release.

“Coffee is more than caffeine,” study author Professor John Cryan, principal investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland, said in a statement.

“It’s a complex aspect of food that interacts with our gut bacteria, our metabolism and our emotional health.”

COMMON SWEETENERS CAN ADD FAT IN UNEXPECTED WAYS

Coffee drinkers have been found to have higher levels of certain beneficial bacteria, such as Eggertella and Cryptobacterium curtum.

These bacteria play an important role in secreting gastric acids and creating bile, both of which help the body eliminate harmful bacteria and control inflammation, the researchers noted.

The non-caffeine components of coffee, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, may significantly boost mental health. (Stock)

Both caffeine drinkers and decaf drinkers reported lower levels of perceived stress, depression and anxiety. This suggests that the non-caffeine components of coffee, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, significantly promote mental health.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLES

However, these two types of alcohol offer different properties. Caffeinated coffee was directly associated with reduced anxiety and better concentration, while decaf was shown to lead to significant improvements in learning and episodic memory.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH PAPER

Researchers believe that these cognitive benefits of decaf drinkers may be linked to better sleep quality and increased physical activity.

Caffeinated coffee was specifically linked to reduced anxiety and better concentration, while decaf led to significant improvements in learning and episodic memory. (Stock)

The study’s findings are limited by the small sample size, which may not accurately represent the diverse microbiome profiles found in the world’s diverse populations.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Because the study relied heavily on self-reported data about participants’ coffee habits and mood levels, the results are subject to memory errors and bias, the researchers noted.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

The study also did not rigorously control for other dietary variables, such as sugar and dairy additives, which can independently influence gut health and mask the specific effect of the coffee beans themselves.

The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.