Brewing Up Better Moods: The Mental Health Perks of a Coffee Habit

As a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, I’ve long been enamored with the morning ritual of sipping on that warm, aromatic brew. The familiar comfort it brings, the way it jolts my senses awake – it’s become an integral part of my daily routine. But lately, I’ve started wondering if there’s more to my coffee habit than just a temporary energy boost.

Rethinking My Relationship with Caffeine

In recent months, a revelation struck me: my two-a-day coffee habit might be serving up more than just a productivity-enhancing kick. Sure, I’ve always credited that injection of caffeine with powering me through my to-do list, but what if there were potential mental health benefits at play as well?

It all started when a friend mentioned that her new therapist had asked about her coffee consumption. Intrigued, I delved deeper and learned that caffeine can actually increase the likelihood of anxiety and panic attacks – something I’ve personally struggled with quite a bit. The NHS even states that more than 600mg a day (about four cups of coffee) can lead to issues like sleeplessness, agitation, and restlessness.

Considering my own 256mg daily intake, this information gave me pause. While I’ve long extolled the virtues of coffee – from enhanced brain and heart health to improved gym performance – I realized I needed to reevaluate my relationship with the world’s most commonly used psychoactive drug.

Enter: Functional Coffee

Just as I was pondering this coffee conundrum, the wellness world seemed to be brewing up a smart alternative: functional coffee. This specialized blend boasts added adaptogens, probiotics, and even CBD, all with the promise of providing a more balanced energy boost and promoting focus and calm.

Meghan Markle was apparently ahead of the curve when she endorsed Clevr Blends’ adaptogenic lattes back in 2020. And brands like London Nootropics and Dirtea are helping functional coffee make waves here in the UK, with the global market for these products expected to grow by £2.36 billion between 2022 and 2027.

But could this specialized coffee really be the productivity-enhancing, mood-boosting hack my daily routine needed? Or was it just the latest wellness fad making wishy-washy claims? Eager to find out, I decided to put functional coffee to the test and swap out my regular brew for a full month.

My Month-Long Functional Coffee Experiment

I started my functional coffee journey with a box of sachets from London Nootropics, featuring three intriguingly named varieties: Flow, Mojo, and Zen. Each one promised to deliver a unique blend of adaptogens and other beneficial ingredients to support different aspects of my mental and physical well-being.

Mixing each sachet with water and a dash of oat milk in my trusty Soho Home mug, I couldn’t detect much difference in the taste compared to my regular brew. But the differences in how I felt throughout the day were quite remarkable.

Gone were the strong initial mental boosts that made me feel like I could conquer the world (for about 30 minutes, at least). Instead, I noticed a steadier, more gradual increase in energy and focus that seemed to last right through the afternoon. No more pesky caffeine crashes!

What’s more, I found that even in the evenings, when I’d typically feel drained and anxious, I still had enough mental bandwidth to be fully present with loved ones or indulge in self-care rituals like yoga and baths. In fact, I discovered that sipping on Dirtea’s Mushroom Cacao Super Blend provided a wonderfully calming, caffeine-free way to wind down.

The Verdict: Functional Coffee’s Cognitive and Mood-Boosting Benefits

While the existing research on functional coffee’s purported benefits is still limited and sometimes funded by vested interests, I can’t deny the very real differences I experienced in my own productivity, energy levels, and mental well-being.

My productivity soared, with a noticeable absence of the frustrating caffeine crashes that used to plague my afternoons. And my late-night anxiety showed its face far less, allowing me to feel more rested and relaxed as I headed to bed.

Of course, the placebo effect can’t be ruled out entirely. But the improvements I saw in my concentration, motivation, and overall mood felt tangible and sustainable – not just a temporary high.

That said, the NHS warns that more than 600mg of caffeine per day can lead to issues like sleeplessness and restlessness. So for anyone with a heavy coffee habit, it’s probably wise to cut back, regardless of whether you opt for a functional blend or not.

And for those taking medications or undergoing chemotherapy, it’s crucial to check with a doctor or pharmacist before trying adaptogenic coffee, as there have been some reported herb-drug interactions.

But for me personally, I’m sold. I’ll definitely be keeping functional coffee in regular rotation, and I encourage you to watch this space – or the menu board at your local Sips Coffeehouse – as this trend continues to brew.

Balancing the Pros and Cons of Coffee

Now, I don’t want to oversell functional coffee as some kind of miracle elixir. The fact is, regular coffee – when consumed in moderation (up to 4 cups per day) – can also provide a wealth of health benefits.

From enhanced brain and heart health to improved longevity and gym performance, the research is quite compelling. And freshly brewed coffee, in particular, is a rich source of polyphenols with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects.

The key, as with most things, is striking the right balance. Cutting back on caffeine can have numerous upsides, like reduced anxiety, better sleep, and improved gut health and nutrient absorption. It may also lower blood pressure and minimize troublesome side effects like headaches and tooth staining.

But for those of us who genuinely enjoy and benefit from our coffee ritual, there’s no need to give it up entirely. As long as we’re mindful of our intake and avoid consuming it too late in the day, a moderate coffee habit can be a perfectly healthy part of our lifestyle.

Staying Curious and Open-Minded

As you can probably tell, I’m quite passionate about this topic. But I also recognize that the research surrounding functional coffee is still very much ongoing and evolving. Just like with any emerging health and wellness trend, we need to approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism and open-mindedness.

For now, the consensus seems to be that functional coffee is generally safe to try, as long as you’re not taking any medications that could interact with the adaptogenic or mushroom-derived ingredients. And if you do decide to give it a go, be sure to pay attention to how it makes you feel – both mentally and physically.

I, for one, will definitely be continuing my functional coffee exploration. Who knows, it might just become a key part of my daily feel-good routine alongside my morning HIIT session and evening hyaluronic acid-infused self-care rituals.

But I also encourage you to stay curious and keep an eye on the latest developments in this space. As the global market for functional coffee continues to grow, I have a feeling we’re only just scratching the surface of its potential benefits.

So why not swing by your local Sips Coffeehouse and treat yourself to a little functional coffee experimentation? You just might be brewing up a happier, healthier you.