According to Gram Research analysis, when people experience higher daily stress, they drink significantly more tea and coffee—beverages rich in heart-protective plant compounds called polyphenols. A 2026 study of 67 healthy adults found that stress strongly predicted increased tea and coffee consumption, suggesting people naturally reach for these healthier beverages during difficult times. However, stress also increases consumption of unhealthy foods like sugar and saturated fat, creating a mixed effect on overall health during stressful periods.
A new study tracked 67 healthy young adults for a week to see what they ate and drank when stressed. Researchers found that when people felt more stressed, they drank significantly more tea and coffee—beverages loaded with healthy plant compounds called polyphenols. Interestingly, this might actually be good for their hearts, since these plant compounds can protect heart health during stressful times. The study also found that when people felt sad or tired, they ate more unhealthy foods like sugary snacks and fatty foods. This research suggests that our bodies might naturally reach for healthier drinks when stressed, which could be nature’s way of protecting us.
Key Statistics
A 2026 ecological momentary assessment study of 67 healthy young adults found that higher daily stress was significantly associated with increased tea and coffee consumption, with the effect being even stronger in participants with habitually high stress levels.
According to research reviewed by Gram, lower feelings of positivity predicted higher consumption of saturated fat and sugar on the same day, while higher fatigue levels predicted increased overall fat intake in the 67-participant study.
The 2026 study found that polyphenol intake increased during periods of higher stress (p = 0.070), suggesting people may naturally consume more heart-protective plant compounds when experiencing psychological stress.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether people eat and drink differently when they’re stressed, and whether they naturally choose healthier foods during stressful times.
- Who participated: 67 young, healthy adults who tracked their stress levels, mood, and everything they ate and drank for 7 days using their phones.
- Key finding: When people experienced higher daily stress, they drank significantly more tea and coffee—beverages rich in protective plant compounds. People with depression symptoms also drank more tea and coffee overall.
- What it means for you: Your body might naturally guide you toward healthier drinks like tea and coffee when you’re stressed, which could help protect your heart. However, stress also pushes people toward sugary and fatty foods, so being aware of this pattern helps you make better choices.
The Research Details
Researchers recruited 67 young, healthy adults and asked them to use a smartphone app for 7 days to report their stress levels, mood, and everything they ate and drank. This method, called ecological momentary assessment, captures real-life eating patterns as they happen, rather than asking people to remember what they ate days or weeks later.
The app asked participants about their stress, anxiety, depression, energy levels, and fatigue multiple times per day. It also tracked exactly what they consumed, including how many polyphenols (healthy plant compounds found in tea, coffee, fruits, and vegetables) they ate. Researchers then used statistical analysis to find patterns: Did stress predict what people ate? Did people with depression eat differently?
This approach is powerful because it captures actual behavior in real life, not in a lab setting. It also allows researchers to see both day-to-day changes within each person and differences between people.
Most previous studies asked people to remember what they ate weeks or months later, which is unreliable. This study captured eating choices in real-time, making the results much more trustworthy. By tracking stress and food together, researchers could see if stress actually causes people to change their eating habits, not just whether stressed people eat differently overall.
The study’s main strength is its real-world design—it captures actual eating patterns as they happen. The sample size of 67 is moderate, which is reasonable for this type of detailed tracking study. The 7-day tracking period is relatively short, so results might differ over longer periods. The study only included young, healthy adults, so findings may not apply to older people or those with health conditions. The study was published in Food & Function, a peer-reviewed nutrition journal, indicating it met scientific standards.
What the Results Show
The most striking finding was that higher daily stress strongly predicted increased tea and coffee consumption. When people felt more stressed on a particular day, they drank noticeably more tea and coffee. This pattern was even stronger in people who generally experienced high stress in their lives.
This is potentially good news because tea and coffee are rich in polyphenols—plant compounds that protect heart health. The study found that polyphenol intake increased slightly when people were stressed (though this trend was borderline statistically significant). This suggests people’s bodies might naturally guide them toward healthier beverages during difficult times.
The study also found that people with depression symptoms (measured across the whole week) drank more tea and coffee overall. This could mean that people instinctively reach for these comforting, healthy beverages when experiencing low mood.
The research revealed a darker side of stress: when people felt less positive or more fatigued, they ate more unhealthy foods. Specifically, lower feelings of positivity predicted higher consumption of saturated fat and sugar on that same day. Higher fatigue levels (measured across the week) predicted increased overall fat intake. These findings suggest that while stress might push people toward healthy beverages, it simultaneously pushes them toward unhealthy snacks—creating a mixed effect on overall health.
Previous research has shown that stress generally worsens eating habits, but this study adds nuance: stress affects different foods differently. While stress increases unhealthy food consumption (confirming previous findings), it simultaneously increases consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages. This suggests the stress-eating relationship is more complex than previously thought. The finding that tea and coffee consumption increases during stress is novel and suggests a potential protective mechanism that hadn’t been clearly documented before.
The study only followed people for 7 days, which is too short to know if these patterns continue long-term. The 67 participants were all young and healthy, so results may not apply to older adults, people with chronic stress, or those with existing health conditions. The study couldn’t prove that stress causes people to drink more tea and coffee—only that the two occur together. Additionally, the increases in polyphenol intake during stress were borderline statistically significant, meaning they could partly be due to chance. The study also didn’t measure whether drinking more tea and coffee actually protected people’s hearts during stress.
The Bottom Line
If you’re stressed, be aware that you might naturally reach for tea and coffee, which is actually beneficial. However, also pay attention to your other food choices—stress tends to increase consumption of sugary and fatty foods. Try to intentionally choose fruits, vegetables, and other polyphenol-rich foods alongside your tea or coffee. (Moderate confidence: based on observational data from a small sample over a short period.)
Anyone experiencing regular stress should find this relevant, especially those concerned about heart health. Young adults may particularly benefit from understanding these patterns. People with depression or anxiety should note that their beverage choices might already be helping them. This research is less directly applicable to people with eating disorders or those taking medications that affect appetite.
If you start intentionally choosing polyphenol-rich foods during stress, you might notice improved mood and energy within days to weeks. Heart-protective benefits from polyphenols typically develop over weeks to months of consistent consumption. Don’t expect immediate dramatic changes—think of this as building a protective habit over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does stress make you eat unhealthy foods?
Stress increases consumption of unhealthy foods like sugar and saturated fat, especially when people feel less positive or more fatigued. However, stress also increases consumption of healthy beverages like tea and coffee, which contain protective plant compounds.
What should I drink when I’m stressed?
Tea and coffee are excellent stress-time beverages because they contain polyphenols—plant compounds that protect heart health. A 2026 study found people naturally drink more of these beverages during stress, suggesting your body instinctively reaches for them.
Can polyphenols protect your heart during stress?
Research shows polyphenols have cardioprotective properties, and this study suggests people naturally consume more polyphenol-rich beverages during stress. However, the study didn’t directly measure whether this actually protects hearts during stressful periods.
Why do people eat more junk food when stressed?
The study found that lower mood and higher fatigue—both associated with stress—predict increased consumption of sugary and fatty foods. Stress appears to shift food preferences toward comfort foods, even though healthier beverages become more appealing.
How long does it take polyphenols to help your health?
This study didn’t measure health outcomes, only food consumption. Generally, polyphenol benefits develop over weeks to months of consistent consumption. The study suggests starting with tea and coffee during stressful periods as a practical first step.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log your stress level (1-10 scale) and mood each morning and evening, then track your tea, coffee, fruit, and vegetable intake. Over 2-4 weeks, you’ll see if your stress levels correlate with your beverage and food choices, helping you identify your personal stress-eating patterns.
- When you notice stress rising (using the app’s stress tracker), set a reminder to brew tea or coffee and pair it with a piece of fruit or vegetables. This leverages your natural stress-driven beverage preference while adding more polyphenol-rich foods to counteract stress-driven junk food cravings.
- Track weekly averages of stress, mood, tea/coffee intake, and fruit/vegetable intake. Look for patterns: Do your tea and coffee consumption spikes match stress spikes? Do you eat more sugary foods on high-stress days? Use these insights to build a personalized stress-eating response plan.
This research describes associations between stress and food choices in healthy young adults over a 7-day period. It does not prove that tea and coffee consumption prevents stress-related health problems. Individual responses to stress and dietary interventions vary significantly. If you experience chronic stress, anxiety, or depression, consult a healthcare provider or mental health professional. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace personalized medical advice. Always discuss dietary changes with your doctor, especially if you take medications that interact with caffeine or have conditions affected by caffeine intake.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.