Skip to content
Coffee Affects Our Minds By Modifying Our Gut Bacteria episode artwork

May 14, 2026 1 min

Coffee Affects Our Minds By Modifying Our Gut Bacteria

from Dr. Howard Smith Reports Hosted by Howard G. Smith MD, AM

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYVO2sIPdjM/ Coffee, both caffeinated and de-caffeinated, modifies our brain functions by triggering changes to the bacteria in our gastrointestinal system. Microbiome researchers at Ireland’s University College Cork intensely analyzed 62 coffee and non-coffee drinkers looking at their cognition, gastrointestinal, and general physical functions. Their study appears in the journal Nature Communications. Coffee drinking significantly modifies gut bacteria and the biochemical reactions they influence. In so doing, caffeinated coffee lowers stress and anxiety levels, improves attention and alertness, but also increases impulsivity. On the other hand, decaf coffee improves memory and learning. The bottom line: a cup of joe turns out to be a complex elixir that impacts your gut and, by so doing, your mental and emotional functioning in so many ways. The references for this report are available on my website. #CoffeeScience #GutHealth #BrainHealth #DecafCoffee #MentalHealth

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

Coffee Affects Our Minds By Modifying Our Gut Bacteria

0:00 1:21

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Dr. Howard Smith Reports?

This episode is 1 minute long.

When was this Dr. Howard Smith Reports episode published?

This episode was published on May 14, 2026.

Can I download this Dr. Howard Smith Reports episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.