Today is World Happiness Day. But we, like the L’Or coffee brand crew, think every day we should do things that make us happy. And a cup of great coffee definitely starts our day off on the right foot.
But did you know there’s a reason why 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 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’.
So, enjoying your coffee and knowing that it makes you happy is a win-win. So don’t feel guilty about that second cup anymore.
How should we enjoy our 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.
So be your choice espresso, Americano, flat white, cappuccino and latte, have a cup and be happy.
Details: lorespresso.co.za
