For people who love a hot beverage, there is no better feeling that tucking into a hot cup of coffee or a cup of tea. People are either tea drinkers or coffee drinkers and there has been an ongoing debate over which is better for your health. Typically tea is seen as the healthier alternative to coffee. For years now, a new study is revealed that states that one is healthier than the other or a study will state that both coffee and tea are not healthy. The current studies however are coming back generally positive so all those tea and coffee drinkers out there can rest easy knowing their favorite drink is not as bad as once predicated. So which one is better? Let’s compare the two to see if one is actually better than the other.
Coffee
Caffeine: Biggest benefit that most people will agree on it that coffee has a lot of caffeine in it for that extra kick sometimes needed to get through the day. Coffee carries a lot more caffeine than tea and it is the preferred choice for those who need a pick me up in the morning or some extra energy in the afternoon. Coffee also gives you a quick jolt of energy, which can be felt almost immediately. The caffeine boost also lasts anywhere from 3 to 7 hours depending on the absorption rate.
Taste: Typically coffee can be more acidic and can sometimes cause heartburn or acid reflux in an individual. Some people find the taste very appealing but the bonus to coffee is the ability to add other delicious flavors like hazelnut, vanilla, or cinnamon. One could be very inventive with their coffee and turn it into quite the creation.
Benefits for the body: The coffee beans themselves contain potassium, manganese, magnesium, and niacin, which are key nutrients for the human body. There are also studies that have found that coffee drinkers have a considerably lower risk of type 2 diabetes than non-coffee drinkers. Scientists can’t really find the exact reason why this is the case but studies have shown that there is a connection. People who also drink coffee have a lower risk of getting cirrhosis of the liver. Coffee also potentially protects the body from certain cancers. Coffee is also full of antioxidants, which helps to protect the cells in the body from oxidation damage.
Benefits for the mind: Coffee also offers mental benefits as well. There have been studies done that have shown that drinking coffee reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s. Dr. Abhishek Mohan at Old Dominion University conducted a study that showed that coffee can reduce the levels of beta amyloid, a destructive protein in the brain. Another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s, has no known cure but coffee drinkers have a tendency to have a lower risk of developing the disease. Drinking coffee has also been linked to helping lower the risk of depression in most people. Studies have shown that people who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were 55% less likely to commit suicide.
Tea
Caffeine: Tea does not have the same caffeine content as coffee. Some varieties do have a higher caffeine content that others. For example, black tea contains more caffeine than white tea. This can be a plus for some people looking for a little caffeine boost versus a huge jolt of energy. Tea also contains an amino-acid called L-theanine, which lowers the absorption rate of the caffeine into the body but stimulates the neurotransmitter GABA. This stimulation helps people to fell alert but relaxed at the same time.
Taste: One major benefit to the tea is that is comes in wide variety with all different kinds of flavors. Some teas taste fruity, some earthy, some sweet and some even spicy. There are so many different flavors that anyone can find a tea flavor that they will enjoy. Also, there are herbal teas that contain no caffeine but also come in a lot of different flavors.
Benefits for the body: Green tea is absolutely loaded with antioxidants, which have been known to help prevent oxidative damage. There have been multiple studies that have some that tea helped to decrease the likelihood of developing breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer. Researchers discovered that the polyphenols in tea leaves have been shown to fight inflammation. Tea also allows the body to become more responsive to insulin hence being able to lower the blood sugar levels. There are also studies that have shown that tea can potentially decrease the risk of heart disease.
Benefits for the mind: There is still a lot of research that needs to be conducted into this field but preliminary findings have shown that the catechin compounds in tea can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. There are future studies slated to see whether this connection can be scientifically proven.
Overall, when comparing the two liquids to each other, there is no real winner or loser. Both tea and coffee have certain benefits that are specific to their individual genus. Past studies have shown that coffee was not as good for you as tea but current studies have proven that there are benefits to both drinks.
