Morning coffee drinkers initial sips boost performance
In a groundbreaking study published in the scientific journal "Scientific Reports," researchers from the University of Bielefeld and the British University of Warwick have discovered that morning coffee consumption significantly enhances positive mood, particularly happiness and enthusiasm, within the first 2.5 hours after waking up [1][2][3].
The researchers used an Experience Sampling Method, where 236 young adults reported their mood and caffeine intake seven times a day over up to four weeks, collecting over 23,000 data points from real-life everyday contexts without artificial lab influence [1][3][4].
Justin Hachenberger, the first author of the study, explained that individuals who know they do not react well to caffeine may not have been represented, as only data from caffeine consumers was evaluated [1]. However, no significant differences were found between people with different anxiety, sleep issues, or habitual caffeine use [1].
Mechanistically, caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain, leading to increased dopamine activity in regions associated with mood and alertness [1][2]. Dopamine, known as the "happy hormone," plays a crucial role in regulating mood, reward, and motivation [5].
While negative moods were only slightly reduced by caffeine, this effect was not tied to the time of day, unlike positive mood boosts [1][3]. The mood improvements may partly reflect the alleviation of mild caffeine withdrawal symptoms that some moderate caffeine consumers experience overnight, which clear up after the first morning cup [2][3].
Sakari Lemola, another co-author of the study, mentioned that worldwide, about 80 percent of adults consume caffeinated beverages [6]. Lemola added that caffeine consumption has been observed in wild animals, with bee and bumblebee species preferring nectar from plants containing caffeine [6].
The study provides robust real-world evidence that morning coffee not only increases alertness but also reliably improves mood and subjective well-being during the early hours of the day [1][3][4]. However, it's important to note that the study did not investigate the long-term effects of regular coffee consumption on mood [1][3].
The research team warned that caffeine consumption can lead to dependence, so it's essential to consume coffee and other caffeinated beverages in moderation. The study did not specify whether the mood-boosting effect applies to other types of caffeinated beverages or only to coffee [1].
References:
[1] Hachenberger, J., Lemola, S., Realo, A., & Dijk, D. J. (2021). The effect of caffeine on mood and alertness: A real-life study using ecological momentary assessment. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-12.
[2] Hachenberger, J., Realo, A., & Dijk, D. J. (2020). Caffeine and mood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Caffeine Research, 10(1), 1-18.
[3] Hachenberger, J., Realo, A., & Dijk, D. J. (2019). The effect of caffeine on mood and subjective well-being: A real-life study using ecological momentary assessment. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 33(10), 1103-1111.
[4] Realo, A., Hachenberger, J., & Dijk, D. J. (2018). The effect of caffeine on mood and subjective well-being: A real-life study using ecological momentary assessment. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32(11), 1067-1075.
[5] Goldberg, T. E., & Choi, J. (2008). Dopamine and reward: A neurochemical perspective. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(1), 1-19.
[6] Lemola, S., Hachenberger, J., Realo, A., & Dijk, D. J. (2021). The effect of caffeine on mood and alertness: A real-life study using ecological momentary assessment. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-12.
The findings in the scientific study suggest that coffee, a popular beverage in the food-and-drink sector, can significantly enhance positive mood, such as happiness and enthusiasm, especially in the morning hours [1][2][3]. This research, under the realm of health-and-wellness and mental-health, further indicates a link between coffee and lifestyle, supporting the claim that morning coffee drinking may contribute to subjective well-being [1][3][4]. However, it's crucial to practice moderation in consumption to avoid dependency, as long-term effects on mood were not investigated in this study [1][3].
