Coffee has a bad reputation. It is known to make people jittery, nervous and can even induce panic attacks. But there’s another side to the coin and it is that coffee can actually help you deal with your anxiety. If consumed wisely.

Many experts believe that caffeinated drinks should be avoided if you deal with anxiety and mood swings. But not for everyone and here’s why:

• The chemical dopamine is usually low in people with anxiety and depression.
• Caffeine also helps the brain release dopamine (aka the feel-good chemical) into the area of the brain important for mood regulation.
• It also helps store dopamine in the amygdala, a part of the brain important for anxiety regulation.
• Since caffeine helps raise the dopamine levels, it, in turn, helps positively affect their mood and helps them feel happier and less anxious.

So, What’s The Catch?

Moderation. To allow coffee to help, you must stick to two cups of coffee per day only. No more than that. Over-consumption of coffee is the primary cause of panic attacks, insomnia, jittery nerves and more. I tend to have a small glass of cold coffee in the morning and one at 4 pm if needed. The dopamine that gets released in my the prefrontal cortex in the morning calms me down and induces a happy state.

And I make it a point to never drink a shot of espresso, ever. But coffee is just one of the simpler way to ensure a healthy state of mind. You will experience true change only by adopting a lifestyle which compliments and enhances your mental health. For me, its a combination of meditation, affirmation, exercise, healthy eating and sticking to a strict mental diet.

Below mentioned is my personal favourite cold coffee recipe:

Ice Blended Cold Coffee

You will need:

• 1 small shot of espresso. You can also mix 1 teaspoon of ground coffee with hot water. Make sure you cool the espresso in the fridge before mixing it with the ice
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1 cup ice

Method:

Mix all together in a mixer until the mixture is smooth. You can add the bit more sugar of the taste of coffee is too strong.

You can also watch this video: