How Drinking Coffee Helps Depression In Women
The question had been raised for years. Does drinking coffee help decrease the chances of depression in women? We know that too much caffeine in our system can affect how much anxiety there is in our minds and it also increases insomnia. Scientists and nutritionists at Harvard School of Public Health decided that they would answer the question once and for all. About 2,200 men were tested in Finland, and they found that men who drank a lot of coffee decreased their risk of suicide, compared to those who did not drink coffee, or drank little. This study was not used to prove the facts, since the sample size was not very wide. 51,000 Women took part in Harvard’s study. Those who showed signs of depression at the beginning of the study were excluded, since they wanted accuracy. These women were required to provide detailed information about their coffee consumption, risks of depression, and their health every two years, for 10 years. This study started in 1996 and ended in 2006. Only fully-caffeinated coffee was used, since decaf, sodas, chocolate, tea and other caffeine sources did not have the high level of caffeine that fully-caffeinated coffee has. The results came in and it was concluded that 2,607 women were diagnosed with depression, but of those who drank coffee on a regular basis; about 20% had lower depression risks. So, for the results, the risks of depression are minimized with each cup of coffee, up to 6 cups each day for this experiment.
“ ‘We know that caffeine enters the brain and activates the release of different neurotransmitters that are related to mood, like dopamine and serotonin,’ Dr. Ascherio said. ‘That may explain the shorter-term effects on mood. But the long term mechanisms of caffeine intake on mood we don’t really know.’”
I believe that this study is very accurate, and it seems like a foreign concept, but it also seems like it’s a new way that people will be able to treat depression without taking any medications. Considering that about 3,000 women out of 51,000 tested came out with signs of depression, leaving about 48,000 women that were not showing signs of depression who drank coffee, then I think that this experiment was efficient and successful. The fact that more than 3 trials were made, and that it was tested for 10 consecutive years, makes it more accurate. On that note, “ ‘ some people may think ‘a bit is good, so more is better,’ but that’s not true’ Dr. Ascherio said. ‘We self medicate ourselves with caffeine, and each person usually knows their optimal level.’” this meaning that while some caffeine is good for the system, over-doing it worsens the situation. The Harvard School of Public Health wants to do a further study of caffeine, saying that it’s not yet safe to recommend people to drink coffee in order to decrease depression risks, since it may have something to do with genetics, which is the new experiment they are looking forward to testing. Suicide risks also increased as 8 or more cups of coffee are consumed. Caffeine may also have a “positive effect against Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in which symptoms of depression are common, suggesting that ‘caffeine may have some beneficial effect on neuronal health’”.
O'connor, Anahad. "Coffee Drinking Linked to Less Depression in Women - NYTimes.com." Health and Wellness - Well Blog - NYTimes.com. 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. <http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/coffee-drinking-linked-to-less-depression-in-women/?scp=1>.
“ ‘We know that caffeine enters the brain and activates the release of different neurotransmitters that are related to mood, like dopamine and serotonin,’ Dr. Ascherio said. ‘That may explain the shorter-term effects on mood. But the long term mechanisms of caffeine intake on mood we don’t really know.’”
I believe that this study is very accurate, and it seems like a foreign concept, but it also seems like it’s a new way that people will be able to treat depression without taking any medications. Considering that about 3,000 women out of 51,000 tested came out with signs of depression, leaving about 48,000 women that were not showing signs of depression who drank coffee, then I think that this experiment was efficient and successful. The fact that more than 3 trials were made, and that it was tested for 10 consecutive years, makes it more accurate. On that note, “ ‘ some people may think ‘a bit is good, so more is better,’ but that’s not true’ Dr. Ascherio said. ‘We self medicate ourselves with caffeine, and each person usually knows their optimal level.’” this meaning that while some caffeine is good for the system, over-doing it worsens the situation. The Harvard School of Public Health wants to do a further study of caffeine, saying that it’s not yet safe to recommend people to drink coffee in order to decrease depression risks, since it may have something to do with genetics, which is the new experiment they are looking forward to testing. Suicide risks also increased as 8 or more cups of coffee are consumed. Caffeine may also have a “positive effect against Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in which symptoms of depression are common, suggesting that ‘caffeine may have some beneficial effect on neuronal health’”.
O'connor, Anahad. "Coffee Drinking Linked to Less Depression in Women - NYTimes.com." Health and Wellness - Well Blog - NYTimes.com. 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 28 Sept. 2011. <http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/coffee-drinking-linked-to-less-depression-in-women/?scp=1>.
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