Introduction:Recently, claims that coffee can prevent COVID-19 or even improve loss of smell have been circulating online. But what’s the truth? This article delves into research data from Northwestern University in the U.S. on coffee and COVID-19 risk, clarifying the real role of coffee in pandemic prevention, and shares practical experience testing whether smelling coffee can help restore the sense of smell. Understanding balanced nutrition and the immune system is key—let this guide you to make more scientific dietary and lifestyle choices during the pandemic.
Lately, various “miraculous effects” of coffee have been buzzing around, with the most talked-about being “drinking coffee can lower the risk of contracting COVID-19” and “smelling coffee aroma can help restore olfactory function.” These claims have spread widely on social media, sparking plenty of discussion—but what’s the reality? This article will take you through a scientific lens to re-examine the validity of these claims and clarify the actual roles coffee plays in both pandemic prevention and smell recovery.
First, regarding the claim that “drinking coffee can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection,” it is actually based on a study published in the journal Nutrients. The study tracked the dietary habits and COVID-19 test results of over 37,000 participants from the UK Biobank between March and November 2020. It found that compared to those who drank less than one cup of coffee per day, participants who consumed at least one cup daily had approximately a 10% lower risk of contracting COVID-19. In addition, consuming more than 0.67 servings of vegetables per day also helped reduce infection risk, while eating processed meat may increase it. Interestingly, participants who had been breastfed also showed relatively lower infection risks.
However,these figures do not mean coffee is a panacea for preventing COVID-19. Researchers emphasize that overall dietary patterns and balanced nutrition are the critical factors influencing immune system function. It's not the caffeine or other specific components in coffee that matter most, but rather the intake of diverse nutrients in a balanced diet—such as antioxidants and dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables—that collectively support the proper functioning of the immune system. In other words, even without drinking coffee, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits can also contribute to lowering infection risk.
Beyond COVID-19 prevention, there’s another claim circulating online: that people who lose their sense of smell after infection can recover it by smelling coffee beans. The reasoning behind this advice is that coffee contains over 800 aromatic compounds, which might stimulate the olfactory nerves and thus aid in restoring smell function. But does this method really work?
To test this claim, I conducted an experiment myself. When experiencing weakened smell after infection, I tried leaning close to hot coffee and deeply inhaling its aroma. Initially, I did feel a brief relief from nasal congestion, but there was no immediate improvement in my ability to identify smells. In fact, loss of smell is usually due to nasal or neural inflammation triggered by viral infection, which reduces the brain’s ability to receive odor signals. And the degree of inflammation varies from person to person, as does the speed of recovery.
Experts point out that smell recovery typically takes time, as the body naturally repairs damaged nerves and mucosal tissues. During this recovery period, you can try smelling different odors (not necessarily coffee) to stimulate the olfactory nerves—such as citrus fruits, mint, or spices with strong scents. However, if there’s no improvement after trying these, there’s no need to worry excessively, since in most cases, smell function gradually returns over time.
In summary, both the claims that coffee reduces COVID-19 risk and that coffee aroma helps restore smell involve a certain degree of misunderstanding and exaggeration.Coffee may be beneficial to health, but it is not a single key factor in preventing or treating COVID-19. What truly matters is maintaining a balanced diet, consuming diverse nutrients, keeping good lifestyle habits, and following scientific protective measures—these are the cornerstones that support the immune system and defend against viral invasion.
Finally, when faced with all kinds of pandemic-related information, it’s important to stay rational and not easily believe unverified home remedies or miracle cures. The body’s self-healing abilities are often beyond our imagination—giving it enough rest and nutrition is the most effective path to recovery. We hope every reader can take good care of themselves during this special time and greet each new day safely and healthily.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
