Coffee or Tea – Which is the Healthier Choice?

Our days usually start with a hot cup of tea or a hot cup of coffee. Most of us love to drink either tea or coffee, and a day without these beverages seems incomplete. A cup of coffee or tea can help you relax – well, this is what we like to think, but many people say that tea and coffee should be avoided. Find out which one is healthier.

Tea or Coffee – Which is Better?

We will give you a detailed analysis of both the beverages to make an informed choice.

1. What Defines Each of Them

Taste! The major differentiator of tea and coffee is their taste.

Tea: Whether it is green, black, white, oolong or any other variety of tea, they all come from the plant botanically known as camellia sinensis. The taste of tea depends on how the tea leaves are processed. Tea leaves are full of antioxidants, hence drinking tea is deemed good for the body.

Coffee: Coffee is grown in different parts of the world. It can be strong and have a bitter taste in the mouth sometimes. Being higher on the acidic side, coffee can cause issues like acid reflux, heartburn or other GERD signs. For the ones who prefer milk in their coffee, add on a dash of almond or coconut milk to make it healthier and tastier.

2. Caffeine Content

Tea and coffee both contain caffeine that provides you with instant energy. The caffeine blocks adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that signals your brain to take rest. Let us see which one among coffee or tea has more caffeine content?

Tea: A cup of tea can give you anywhere between 15 to 70 mg of caffeine.

Coffee: A cup of coffee has more caffeine than a cup of tea. It precisely contains around 100 mg of caffeine. Moderate consumption of caffeine every day is alright as long as it is not disturbing your sleep.

3. Energy Booster

Both tea and coffee have caffeine in them, but the difference is in the way they make your body behave.

Tea: Tea has less caffeine and contains L-theanine, an amino acid that actually lowers the speed at which the caffeine is absorbed in your body. It can provide you with energy. Tea has an anti-anxiety effect on the body and can make you more alert in a relaxed way.

Coffee: If you need instant energy, a cup of coffee would do wonders. Coffee has a higher caffeine content than tea and can lift your mood immediately.

4. Quality of Sleep

Both tea and coffee are great to be consumed as long as they don’t keep you awake at bedtime.

Tea: Since it is much lower in the caffeine content, it is easier for the body to process the caffeine faster. Your sleep does not get affected much.

Coffee: People who drink coffee may have trouble falling asleep at night as coffee is high in caffeine. Hence, it is advised that you drink your last cup of coffee at least 6-7 hours before you hit the bed every day.

5. Health Benefits

Some of the health benefits of tea and coffee are mentioned below:

Tea: Tea is known to contain polyphenols that help in combating inflammation. Tea is loaded with antioxidants that can help protect your body’s cells against oxidative damage that contributes to cancer development. Green tea has properties that help in lowering blood sugar levels. Catechins found in green tea can potentially kill bad bacteria in the mouth. Green tea can also help in weight loss.

Coffee: Besides caffeine, coffee has a host of other nutrients like potassium, magnesium, manganese, and niacin that are good for your body. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants which can prevent cancers.

6. Mental Health Benefits

Both tea and coffee affect your body in different ways, but they both have unique properties that affect your mental health as well.

Tea: Catechins in tea could potentially help in lowering the risk of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Coffee: In addition to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, coffee also helps in fighting depression.

Should You Avoid Drinking Both?

Although both the beverage have their own unique properties, they can affect your health in a negative way as well. You should avoid drinking both in the following situations:

1. Adrenal Fatigue

If your body is overworked and you feel stressed because of a lack of sleep, you must think again before drinking tea or coffee.

2. Anxiety

If you feel anxious, it is suggested that you avoid caffeinated drinks as these drinks might make you more anxious and jittery.

3. Don’t Like the Taste

If you don’t like the taste of the beverage, don’t drink it.

4. Sensitive to Caffeine

Caffeine can alter your sleep patterns. So if you have trouble falling asleep, it is best that you avoid drinking tea and coffee.

The Verdict

There is no clear answer. As long as you like the beverage and it does not disrupt your sleep patterns or alters your body routine, you can drink them in moderation.

Drinking tea or coffee is absolutely an individual’s choice. As long as you drink either in moderation,  it will be good for you and your body. However, you should refrain from drinking tea or coffee to boost your energy levels as in the long run it won’t be good for your health.

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