More and more experts are focusing on how nutrition can influence brain function. Beyond providing energy, some foods contain compounds that participate directly in the production of neurotransmitters related to memory, motivation, or concentration. In this context, Antonio Valenzuela, a clinician specializing in psychoneuroimmunology, has drawn attention with a combination that is as simple as it is unexpected: coffee alone and aged cheese.
According to the specialist, “the best pairing you can make with coffee is aged cheese and a black coffee,” a blend that, from the brain’s point of view, considers especially interesting for the way its components act on dopamine.
The mix that promotes dopamine production
Antonio Valenzuela explains that, when you cut into aged cheese, especially varieties such as Parmesan, you can notice small white veins or crystals. In the cheese world they are popularly known as “happiness crystals”, though they actually correspond to crystals of tyrosine, an amino acid fundamental for the body.
As the expert notes, tyrosine is the precursor to dopamine, that is, one of the raw materials the body uses to synthesize this neurotransmitter. Dopamine plays an essential role in functions such as motivation, learning, attention, memory, and the sense of reward.
Therefore, consuming foods rich in tyrosine can help provide the “bricks” needed for the body to produce dopamine, always within a balanced diet and normal metabolism.
The role of coffee in this pairing
The other half of the combination comes from the coffee alone. According to Antonio Valenzuela, this beverage contains compounds that favor the functioning of dopamine in the brain. In particular, caffeine acts by blocking adenosine receptors, a substance related to the sensation of fatigue. As a result, it increases alertness and can enhance the activity of dopaminergic circuits.
Scientific evidence has shown that moderate coffee consumption can temporarily improve attention, concentration, and cognitive performance in many people. Precisely because of this, the expert considers that combining a source of tyrosine, such as aged cheese, with a drink that favors dopaminergic activity gives rise to a combination especially interesting for the brain.
In his own words, “when you take cheese and coffee you are taking tyrosine on one hand, but afterwards you are taking a molecule that elevates the functioning of dopamine in the brain. It’s the perfect cocktail.”
A combination that does not substitute healthy habits
Although this proposal has sparked curiosity, it is worth recalling that no single food, by itself, miracles memory or mental performance. The production and balance of neurotransmitters depend on multiple factors, including rest, physical exercise, overall nutrition and stress management.
In fact, numerous neurology specialists agree that protecting brain health requires a much broader approach. Sleeping seven to nine hours, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, and nuts, as well as stimulating the brain with new learning, are evidence-based strategies to preserve cognitive functions. In this regard, the pairing proposed by Antonio Valenzuela can be understood as a complement within a healthy lifestyle and not as a solitary solution.
