Anxiety is a serious issue. Anxiety is essentially long term stress – and stress is damaging to the mind and body. Stress from anxiety can lead to DNA damage as well as potential long-term health problems such as gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, heart disease, memory loss, and more.

In the short term, anxiety is damaging as well. Regular, persistent anxiety causes fatigue and negative thinking that takes away from any of life's joys. It may also cause physical symptoms like nausea, indigestion, and muscle aches that can make it difficult to remain active.

Overall, when you experience anxiety regularly, it is something that needs to be treated. Prevention of anxiety can be done by identifying your triggers for it. One common item that people claim causes anxiety is coffee.

Anxiety and Diet

In general, anxiety can have any number of different causes. Upbringing certainly plays a role, as the behavioral interactions you've experienced throughout your life may contribute to long term stress. We know that genetics can lead to anxiety, as can illnesses.

Diet may also lead to anxiety. Some foods can actually help fight anxiety, providing you with nutrients that act as sedatives and give your body more rest. Other foods can exacerbate anxiety – either through causing anxiety itself or contributing to anxiety symptoms.

Some anxiety experts will tell you that one food that consistently contributes to anxiety is coffee. These experts recommend that those experiencing anxiety refrain from coffee or other caffeinated beverages in order to control anxiety symptoms.

The origin of this is not that clear.

It seems as though people assume coffee causes anxiety because the symptoms of too much caffeine mimic those of anxiety. For instance, excess caffeine consumption (greater than the recommended daily limit of 400mg of caffeine per day) can cause some problems such as upset stomach, heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, and more.

But in moderation, caffeine is fairly mild, and those with a tolerance often experience few symptoms at all. In fact, if we look at the research, it's possible that caffeine may actually be good for anxiety.

Potential Benefits of Coffee/Caffeine on Anxiety

It's important to note that we are talking about those with generalized anxiety or daily anxiety – not necessarily those with other anxiety disorders (more on that later).

We're also talking about only one to four cups of coffee or tea per day, with no added ingredients. Many people add sugars, creamers, and other ingredients to their caffeinated drinks, and these may cause their own issues. We are focusing 400 milligrams of caffeine, or less, in black coffee or green tea.

With those parameters in place, there is reason to believe that caffeine has no negative effect on anxiety, and may actually be beneficial for those that have mild to moderate general anxiousness.

Several studies examined the relationship between caffeine and anxiety. They found that there were interesting changes to the body that occurred when people with anxiety consumed caffeine. For example, those with anxiety may not need as much caffeine to experience the same effects. But, the research also showed that anxiety scores were no different between those that consumed caffeine and those that did not.

Few studies appear to confirm the theory that caffeine has a negative effect on anxiety.

What several studies have found is the opposite – that caffeine may actually help those with anxiety, stress, and possibly even mild depression. A study in Brazil found that many of those with moderate caffeine consumption experienced less depressive symptoms and fewer cognitive failures, indicating that those that consumed caffeine actually felt better, not worse. In the same study, only a "rare, high dose" of caffeine caused what the authors of the study termed "anxiety" – a level of caffeine that few habitual coffee drinkers consume.

An interesting summary of the possible benefits of caffeine consumption was published by the New York Times. They showed several of the known benefits of caffeine, including:

• An Effect on Mood Those that consumed caffeine tended to have an "improved sense of wellbeing." It appears that caffeine itself has the natural ability to, in layman terms, "lift the spirit." Studies have shown that caffeine may reduce mild depression and calm the mind. Many people also feel better about themselves, with a greater level of happiness that could, in theory, reduce the amount of anxiety they experience.
• Increased Energy Mental and physical energy are an important part of living with anxiety. While anxiety could be described as pent up energy, the reality is that anxiety tends to cause fatigue and general indifference to life events. Exercising, maintaining an active social life, and completing tasks all require energy, and for many, caffeine provides that energy.
• Cognitive Benefits Studies have also shown that caffeine has a beneficial effect on memory and cognition. Intelligent decision making and comfort with one's own memory are valuable tools for dealing with life's stresses, and so caffeine could conceivably provide some level of additional support for dealing with the day.

Research has shown that there are also other potential benefits, such as drinking coffee socially (which provides social support – an important tool for combatting anxiety), lowering the risk of developing Type II diabetes, and more.

There may also be benefit to the routine itself. Routines are a natural form of comfort. The more you get into a routine, the more comfortable you feel with yourself and your surroundings. Those that drink coffee regularly often start to need it as a way of avoiding withdrawal symptoms (and simply as an enjoyable drink to start the day). These routines, like visiting a regular coffee shop or brewing at home every morning, can allow you to begin each day more comfortably.

Each of these represents a potential reason that caffeine may benefit those living with anxiety. Yet even if one doesn't believe in these benefits, the reality is that there is very little, if any, evidence that those living with general anxiety are negatively affected by caffeine.