Still More Great News About Coffee: Helps Eliminate Depression
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Man! Coffee just keeps getting better and better. The study was extensive, of more than 50,000 U.S. female nurses. I dislike such studies. Now we don’t know if the results are indicative of the same or similar figures from males. Or from females who are not nurses, or if it applies to any nation other than the U.S. Or any combination of such. First of all, you must be a female nurse from the United States, this then will assuredly apply to you.
The Harvard Medical School’s team recorded data of these nurses from 1996 through 2006. Slightly over 2,600 of them developed depression. Of this group, more tended to be those who drank no coffee, or very little.
Those who drank one cup of caffeine coffee per week or less, had 15% increased chance of developing depression when compared with those who drank two or three cups per day. Those who drank four or more cups per day reduced their chance by 20%.
The study included consideration of other variables. For instance, those who drank most coffee, so they report, were more likely to smoke and/or drink alcohol, less likely to be regular church goers, or volunteers for community groups, etc. Hmmph! I told you previously that I dislike this type study. I do not smoke (although I did for 40 years), I do not drink alcohol (although I once did, drink a beer now and then). I attend church services regularly. I am not a frequent community volunteer…so they hit one right, I guess. But I am a true coffaholic. I become nervous (not depressed) if I do not have a cup sitting within my reach. Cold or even empty, still comforts me to a degree.
Here is the real kicker…those who drink a lot of coffee were much less likely to be obese or to have high blood pressure. But! They are quick to point out that they have no evidence that the coffee was the factor responsible for those two favorable points. I am not obese and I have magnificent blood pressure, but according to them, I cannot credit my coffee for those.
But now, with all of this said and including my glee, the ones doing the study say this and it kindly takes the air out of my balloon:
And it [caffeine-jhh] has a physical effect on brain function and transmission by altering chemical pathways, like those involving adenosine. But more research is needed to show if this might mean it is useful for warding off depression.
Alternatively, it might be that people with low moods chose not to drink coffee because it contained caffeine, point out the researchers. One of the common symptoms of depression is disturbed sleep, and caffeine can exacerbate this because it is a stimulant. (Coffee may prevent depression, scientists say: Michelle Roberts, BBC News)
They are convinced that the beneficial factor is the caffeine found in coffee, because those who drank decaf did not show the favorable effects as did those who drank regular coffee.
Professor Bertil Fredholm, an expert in pharmacology and physiology at Sweden's Karolinska Institute leaves all us coffee fiends with an overall lift with these words:
"This fits nicely with a lot of the previous work and what we know about caffeine and the brain. It blocks adenosine, which produces a similar effect to increasing dopamine production. And it's becoming increasingly clear that the dopamine-rich areas of the brain are much more important in depression than previously thought. Despite valiant efforts to show how dangerous coffee is for us, it is not proving so. This removes yet another anxiety regarding caffeine use. Drunk in moderation, the evidence is strong that it is not one of the things we do that is going to damage your health." (Ibid)
I think I’ll get me another cup of coffee.
Good advice: To make your coffee drinking the most pleasurable, get Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend, medium roast carried in all Walmart Super Centers, or order “Columbian Gourmet” blend from S & D Coffee company which can be found online. NOBODY can feel depressed with a good, hot cup of those coffees in their hand.
I have another theory of my own. One factor involved in keeping heavy coffee drinkers from becoming obese is that the coffee gives a sense of hunger satisfaction. And if you use cream and sugar, train yourself to use “Cremora Lite” creamer and “Sweet n’ Low” instead of sugar. You will be taking in very few calories and yet you can kick the snacking habit. Enjoy life!
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Joel,
I couldn't agree with you more. Coffee is not a drink; it's a food. There is a scene in one of the Law & Order SVU episodes in which Olivia Benson asks the Assistant D.A. if she would like a cup of coffee. The DA responds, "Every moment of every day." I feel the same way.
Oddly enough, it doesn't keep me awake at night, although if I have a Coke, I am unable to fall asleep.
And, as far as depression. I am sure there is something to this. Coffee and dark chocolate. Can't imagine life without either. I wake up happy and go to sleep happy.
Life is good.
Thank you for sharing an important subject!
Hi Nancy, thanks for corroborating my article. I am with you on coffee and chocolate. And, also, coffee as never bothered my sleep at all. I don't know of coke would or not. I really don't care for carbonated beverages
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