2 to 3 Cups of Coffee Daily May Help Lower Stress, Improve Mental Health

Recent research found that drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of stress and mood disorders. Image Credit: Andrew Cebulka/Stocksy. A recent study found that moderate daily coffee intake may help lower stress and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. The findings indicate that coffee’s protective qualities may be more effective in men. In contrast, the researchers found that drinking large amounts of coffee each day may be associated with a higher risk of mood disorders. Recent research has found that drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee each day may reduce your risk of stress, anxiety, and depression. The researchers found an association between the amount of coffee a person drinks in a day and their risk of developing both stress and mood disorders. The findings suggest that “a moderate intake of coffee might be beneficial for mental health,” according to the study, which was recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. This “J-shaped” association held across coffee types — ground, instant, and even decaffeinated. “These findings are consistent with the pharmacologic effects of caffeine, in addition to the possible benefits of polyphenols in coffee,” said Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. Dimitriu was not involved in the study. “A moderate amount of coffee has the benefit of boosting mood, energy, and resilience to stress. Keep in mind that in most studies, a cup is considered an 8-oz cup, which typically has about 80 to 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. Do not interpret the results of this study to drink 2 to 3 20-oz cups per day,” he told Healthline. Mental health benefits of moderate coffee consumption Using data from the UK Biobank, the researchers analyzed information on 461,586 individuals who were all in good mental health at the start of the study period. The individuals were followed for an average of 13.4