Regularly drinking coffee offers surprise health benefits, new study reveals

Health & Fitness
24 Apr 2026 • 12:58 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Regularly drinking coffee offers surprise health benefits, new study reveals

  • A new study from researchers in Ireland indicates that drinking coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can improve gut health and mood.
  • The research found that regular coffee drinkers exhibited increased levels of beneficial gut bacteria, such as Firmicutes, Eggerthella, and Cryptobacterium curtum, which support metabolism and digestion.
  • Participants in the two-year study, led by Professor Cryan of the University of Cork, reported reduced stress, depression, and impulsivity after reintroducing coffee, irrespective of its caffeine content.
  • Significantly, only decaffeinated coffee drinkers showed improvements in learning and memory, suggesting that non-caffeine components of the beverage are responsible for this particular benefit.
  • These findings add to existing research that highlights coffee's health advantages, including a reduced risk of dementia, slower biological ageing, and lower mortality rates.

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