Many people can’t get up and start the day without a cup of coffee, yet to what extent does caffeine affect our mental health?In this article we will talk about the effects of caffeine on depression.
This issue has been and continues to be the subject of much debate. Many people think caffeine can relieve depression, while others warn that it can intensify or make it chronic.
- Caffeine is a substance that can change our mood and is found in the world’s most popular beverages.
- Such as teas.
- Coffee.
- Energy drinks and many soft drinks.
It is so ubiquitous that it is easy to forget that it is a psychoactive drug, which means that caffeine changes brain function, mood and behavior.
There is a good volume of literature with evidence to support the hypothesis that caffeine is beneficial in reducing the risk of depression.
For example, a major meta-analysis that included more than 346,000 participants examined the link between caffeine and depression and found that caffeine, especially coffee, protected against the disease. He also found that coffee worked better than tea, probably due to the low amount of caffeine content of the tea.
Another meta-analysis, involving 330,000 participants, also concluded that coffee and caffeine consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of depression.
Studies have also shown that the risk of depression resulting from caffeine consumption actually decreases when people increase their daily caffeine intake.
Part of the reason coffee seems to be more effective than tea is that some of its components can combat the negative effects of depression. Coffee contains chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid and coffee acid. These acids can reduce inflammation of nerve cells that occur in the brains of people with depression.
In addition to the natural antioxidant properties of caffeine, coffee can act as an anti-inflammatory in affected parts of the brain, which can alleviate some of the discomfort and distress caused by depression.
However, not all teas are less effective than coffee to reduce the risk of depression. Green tea, with its high antioxidant properties, can be as effective as coffee to protect against depression.
In addition, green tea also contains folate (vitamin B9), polyphenols and theanine, substances that can help fight depression.
One thing there is no doubt about is that caffeine is a molecule that has a fascinating power to alter the chemistry of our brain. The fact is, we don’t have all the answers to their relationship to depression.
The predominant theories support the idea that depression is generated by a chemical imbalance (neurotransmitters), inflammation of the brain, underlying health conditions, genetic propensity, emotional trauma or stressful life circumstances.
Although caffeine does not resolve all possible causes, the effects of caffeine on depression are beneficial in two main ways, especially because of its positive way of acting relative to the brain.
On the one hand, caffeine increases brain chemicals that stimulate mood; In addition, caffeine easily reaches the brain, where it alters the activity of two neurotransmitters especially important for depression, dopamine and serotonin.
Serotonin is the most closely related neurotransmitter to depression; However, there is evidence that Serotonin levels are reduced due to regular caffeine consumption, so regular caffeine consumption may not be a good long-term strategy for treating Serotonin-based depression.
Caffeine also increases dopamine, the neurotransmitter most closely associated with motivation, concentration and productivity. On the other hand, abnormal dopamine levels can also be a cause of depression.
The effects of caffeine on depression are related to better mood, provided regular consumption is carried out.
As for the theory of chemical imbalance, another one is developing: the theory that depression is the result of chronic inflammation of the brain, which has its own immune system whose messengers, cytokines, can activate inflammation, destroy tissues and impair brain function. .
The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines can contribute to depression, anxiety, memory loss, inability to concentrate, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and an increased risk of suicide.
Coffee contains a large number of anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce brain inflammation associated with depression, such as chlorogenic acid, febolic acid, colic acid, nicotinic acid, trigonelin, quinonic acid, tannic acid and pyrogalic acid.
Another effect of caffeine on depression is the release of anti-inflammatory compounds.
Not all experts agree that the effects of caffeine on depression are positive, many say caffeine can make us more vulnerable, in this sense, caffeine consumption can cause anxiety, headaches, increased blood pressure, palpitations, nausea and restlessness.
Each of these symptoms is related to the “fight or flight” response. If this response is caused too often by caffeine, it can cause inflammation and disease.
Several studies have also shown a link between coffee consumption and increased depression. For example, one study found that consuming caffeine might even make depression worse in people with mood disorders. The study found a trend for increased anxiety, especially in people prone to panic attacks.
Keep in mind that caffeine only provides a temporary boost to the nervous system, so people with depression may experience a more severe drop in mood as soon as the effect of caffeine wears off.