Your morning cup of coffee used to get a bad rap. All that caffeine! What were you thinking? But these days coffee has undergone a bit of rehab. Researchers have found it’s not such a shady character. In fact, drinking a cup of coffee every morning can benefit your brain. Coffee does two things to help you:
1. First, it reduces the production of the neurotransmitter adenosine by binding to its receptors. Adenosine is a chemical that makes you feel tired. So you want adenosine at bedtime, but not when you have to go in there and ask the boss for a raise. Drinking a cup of coffee will make you feel more alert and focused.
2. Second, caffeine keeps your brain from reabsorbing dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter. That means you feel happy for longer.
One study showed that drinking coffee reduced depression among subjects— and even reduced suicidal tendencies. Some evidence also shows that coffee- drinking may help protect against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
But of course you can have too much of a good thing. Once you go over about 400 milligrams of caffeine per day—about four cups of coffee—the downside starts to outweigh the upside. For example, too much caffeine can give you migraines. It can cause insomnia, restlessness, and (because it’s a diuretic) increased urination. Also, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can cause heartburn. For some people, coffee makes them jittery and nervous. This is especially true for individuals who already have anxiety. If you experience any of these side effects, reduce your consumption.