World Happiness Day is celebrated every year on 20 March. So, grab a cup of coffee and make sure that you spread some smiles and laughter.
“In fact, no matter if it is World Happiness Day or just a random Monday, we should always look to do things that make us happy,” comments Thokozane Radebe, brand manager for coffee brand L’Or. “So, if it makes you happy and doesn’t hurt anyone else, go ahead and do it.”
Coffee makes you happy… take another sip
Did you know that coffee makes you happy? And not in a, “thank goodness I can have a cup of coffee kind of way”, but in a brain chemical kind of way.
When you drink a cup of coffee it detects the chemical adenosine, the neurochemical in your brain that makes you feel sleepy and blocks it from performing its regular function. This is how coffee keeps you alert. When the adenosine receptors are blocked your body has no other choice but to release its own stimulants – dopamine and glutamine – which are the two chemicals responsible for feeling good. Dopamine is well known as the ‘happiness chemical’.
According to Gary L Wenk, author of Your Brain on Food, coffee makes us feel so good because it can tap into virtually every reward system our brain has created. Harvard School of Public Health’s study into the effects of coffee found that people who drink coffee become more positive about their lives, and several other Harvard studies beforehand saw a link between coffee consumption and a lower rate of depression in both men and women.
“Enjoying your coffee and knowing that it makes you happy is a win-win,” comments Radebe. “So, don’t feel guilty about that second cup anymore.”
How should I enjoy my coffee?
To get the most “happiness” out of your cup, L’Or offers the following advice:
- Lightly roasted coffee beans are higher in caffeine than darker roasted beans.
- If you wake up at 6am, the best time to drink coffee is between 9:30am and 11:30am. Drinking it at any other time will affect your sleeping patterns.
- If you are a gym lover, drinking a cup of coffee an hour before you start your session will boost your strength training.
- If you would like to get the maximum benefits out of your cup of coffee, indulging in a black cup of coffee every now and again will give you the full benefits.
For more info: www.lorespresso.co.za/