Study finds coffee may reduce depression in women

A study by a team at Harvard Medical School suggests women are less likely to experience depression if they drink two or more cups of coffee per day.

The team followed more than 50,000 U.S. nurses, and found women who drink at least two cups of coffee per day saw a 15 percent decrease in risk of developing depression compared to the women who drink one or less cups of coffee.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, also suggested women who regularly drink at least two cups a day are less likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure and become overweight.

Central Michigan University Psychology Professor Gary Dunbar said he has not heard of the study, but said he can see the credit in the claim.

“There’s probably some merit to the idea,” Dunbar said. “(Coffee is) okay in moderation. Too much would be harmful.”

Dunbar, also the co-director of CMU’s neuroscience program, said he believes there are positives to drinking coffee, such as stimulating the nervous system and increasing vigilance for driving.

“It helps people become more engaged to what they’re doing,” Dunbar said.

But he said there are also possible negative effects to coffee, like its ability to impair DNA repair and its potential to trigger a heart attack.

Sara Bohan, an Indiana senior who works at University Cup, 1027 S. Franklin St., said she does think there is a difference between a person’s attitude prior to drinking coffee and afterward.

“People come here early in the morning and the first thing they want is coffee,” Bohan said. “After they get that caffeine fix, they will definitely be more cheerful. Coffee does a lot of stuff.”

Bohan said coffee does make people feel better and increases a person’s happiness after it’s consumed.

“There’s already been studies like breast cancer and Alzheimer’s that coffee helps prevent,” Bohan said. “Most people haven’t mentioned that coffee is bad for you.”

Rebecca Steele, a 16-year-old Mount Pleasant resident who works at Biggby Coffee, 210 S. Mission St., said she thinks people would drink more coffee if they heard about the study.

“It would help the business a lot if people found out about that,” Steele said. “Each and every customer I’ve seen, they always come in a bright mood.”

Biggby employee, Mount Pleasant resident and Mid Michigan Community College student Jamie Parfitt said customers want coffee because they know it’s going to make them feel better.

“When they come through the drive through, you can tell their body is wanting (coffee) because they know it makes them happy,” Parfitt said. “Without them knowing it, it probably makes them happier.”