Does daily coffee change how your body handles stress?
Habitual Caffeine Use Is Associated With Heightened Cortisol Reactivity to Lab-Based Stress in Two Samples
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Acute caffeine intake on the day of stress testing had no effect on cortisol reactivity.
Most people assume that having coffee before a job interview or presentation will make you more stressed—but this study shows it’s your long-term habit, not the cup you had this morning, that matters.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a regular coffee drinker and feel emotionally resilient under stress, don’t assume you’re stress-free—your body might be working harder than you realize.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Acute caffeine intake on the day of stress testing had no effect on cortisol reactivity.
Most people assume that having coffee before a job interview or presentation will make you more stressed—but this study shows it’s your long-term habit, not the cup you had this morning, that matters.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a regular coffee drinker and feel emotionally resilient under stress, don’t assume you’re stress-free—your body might be working harder than you realize.
Publication
Journal
Psychosomatic Medicine
Year
2024
Authors
Elli Cole, Alessandra R Grillo, Suzanne Vrshek-Schallhorn
Related Content
Claims (6)
Consuming caffeine increases the production of ACTH, which in turn causes higher levels of cortisol in the body than what would normally occur based on the body's daily rhythm.
People who regularly drink caffeine and tend to ruminate excessively do not show the typical decrease in cortisol levels that is linked to depression risk, indicating that caffeine might affect how the body responds to stress in this group.
Studies have found that the effect of rumination on cortisol levels varies between groups, which may be because caffeine use and depression risk factors interact differently depending on the environment or other unknown factors.
People who regularly consume caffeine show a stronger cortisol response when exposed to social stress, compared to those who do not.
Consuming caffeine on the same day as a stress test does not change the level of cortisol released in response to stress in healthy young adults. The pattern of cortisol response is more likely related to regular, long-term caffeine consumption than to a single dose.