How Coffee Increases Feelings of Pleasure

It's 5 am, your alarm blares, you sleepily open your eyes, you slowly go to a sitting position, one foot on the ground, 2 foot. You stand up and ever so slowly make your way to the kitchen to prepare yourself a much needed cup o' joe. You're so tired and your mood is low, you don't know how you'll make it through the day. You impatiently wait, then finally beep, beep, beep, coffee's done. Pouring that sweet drink of the god's and smelling that delicious aroma is already awakening your senses. You put some creamer and sweetener in, your favorite flavor-hazelnut, slowly bring to your lips and take that first sweet sip.... Aaaaahhhh. You feel relief, and as you continue drinking that blessed Colombian brew, you begin to feel your senses come alive, your heart beats a little faster, you move a bit more confidently, and joy fills your soul. You can now start your day.

How does something as simple as a cup of coffee give such obvious pleasure to our senses?

Moderate coffee consumption increases serotonin by 26 to 30 percent

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that relays signals between nerve cells, or neurons in the brain, and has an impact on your moods, anxiety, and happiness. So when you drink a cup of coffee the serotonin increases good feelings in your body.

There is a 65 percent increase of GABA when you drink coffee

GABA or Gamma-Aminobutyric acid is an amino acid produced naturally in the brain and is a neurotransmitter. GABA reduces the activity of neurons in the brain and central nervous system, which effects your body and mind, creating feelings of relaxation, calmness, and a level mood.

Caffeine in coffee also increases the receptor acetylcholine by 40-50 percent

According to Encyclopedia Brittanica acetylcholine is the chief neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of the autonomic nervous system (a branch of the peripheral nervous system) that contracts smooth muscles, dilates blood vessels, increases bodily secretions, and slows heart rate. Acetylcholine can stimulate a response or block a response and thus can have excitatory or inhibitory effects.

The increase of acetylcholine is what gives you that energized stimulated feeling from drinking coffee it is also the reason why you get the urge to use the toilet after having a cup.

Besides increased moods there are many other benefits to your favorite morning brew

In a Harvard School of Public Health study it was shown that regular coffee drinkers lowered their risk of depression by 20%.

Just 2 cups of coffee a day improves long-term memory.

2 to 3 cups of coffee a day improves heart performance by increasing blood flow.

The caffeine in coffee can help you burn fat as it increases your metabolic rate by 10 to 29 percent. This is why caffeine is found in most dietary supplements.

Coffee Provides Important Vitamins and Nutrients

In just one 8 ounce cup of coffee all these great vitamins and nutrients can be found.

Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6% of the RDI.

Manganese and potassium: 3% of the RDI.

Magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3): 2% of the RDI

Besides being an amazing mood booster and providing incredible health benefits, coffee provides a great reason to meet with your loved ones and catch up on each other's lives. I firmly believe that connecting with your loved ones over coffee boosts your mental and social health by providing a shared camaraderie and common connection. There's no shortage of coffee shops to meet at either, there are over 56,000 coffee shops just in the United States!

So keep on drinking fellow coffee drinkers of the world, with all these benefits there is no reason not to keep enjoying one of the worlds most favorite morning beverage.