Tea or Coffee?
Which is healthier - tea or coffee?
The question can be analysed piecemeal.
CAFFEINE
Both coffee and several types of tea include caffeine, but coffee contains a much higher concentration. For this reason, those apt to drink large quantities are better off sticking to tea so that they don't exceed the daily recommendation of 300 milligrams. Drinking too much coffee can result in a high intake of caffeine which can disrupt sleep and rob calcium from bones (if you consume too little calcium from foods). And some studies suggest that high intakes of caffeine during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Coffee has its advantages, but tea wins in the war of the antioxidants. While green tea is most commonly associated with antioxidants, white tea actually contains more. Coffee also contains antioxidants, but in a much lower concentration than white tea.
Studies have determined that both coffee and tea have health benefits. Providing you don't load your coffee – or tea – with sugar and cream, either can be a good source of certain nutrients and antioxidants linked to disease prevention.
TEA:
Fresh tea leaves are an incredibly rich source of phytochemicals called catechins, which have potent antioxidant properties. In fact, tea is one of the highest sources of antioxidants in the normal diet. When it comes to health, most of the research has focused on green tea suggesting the beverage may help lower the risk of certain cancers (breast, ovarian) and heart disease. Regular black tea drinkers have also been found to have a lower risk of developing heart disease.
Tea boasts a long list of health benefits. The rich antioxidants in tea fight inflammation, and have been shown to help prevent blood vessels from hardening. Tea drinkers have a significantly lower risk of stroke and heart disease, and tea is known to boost brain health. One study, for example, found that compared with older adults who drank less than three cups a week, those who drank more than two cups of green tea a day had a significantly lower risk of age-related declines in memory. Regular tea drinkers also have higher bone density levels and slower rates of bone loss. Overall it's associated with anti-aging: research shows that the cells of regular tea drinkers have a younger biological age than non-drinkers.
As regards the cons of tea, the first one is purely cosmetic - stained teeth. Another is the potential impact on your iron levels due to tanins, a type of antioxidant that interferes with the absorption of non-heme, or plant-based iron from foods like greens and beans. In one classic 1982 study drinking tea with a meal resulted in a 62% reduction in iron absorption compared to 35% for coffee.
COFFEE:
The good news about coffee just keeps on coming. A brand new Harvard study found that those who drink about three to five cups of coffee a day may be less likely to die prematurely from some diseases than those who drink less or no coffee. A rich source of antioxidants, regular coffee consumption has also been linked to protection against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and certain cancers.
The strongest evidence for coffee's health benefits centre around diabetes. Drinking coffee – at least three cups per day – has been linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a number of studies. Coffee – caffeinated and decaffeinated – contains an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to dampen inflammation in the body, reduce glucose (sugar) absorption and improve how the body uses insulin, the hormone that lowers blood glucose. Coffee also contains magnesium, a mineral linked to blood sugar regulation.
The disadvantages of coffee: Coffee has long had a reputation for bone issues, but it remains unclear how significant the effects are. One study found that a high intake of four or more cups of coffee a day reduced bone density by 2-4%, but the effect didn't translate to an increased risk of fracture. However, if you already have low bone density coffee consumption is something you should discuss with your physician.
So what's better for you – coffee or tea? That really depends on you. If you are not sensitive to caffeine and don't suffer heartburn, both coffee and tea are considered healthy especially if you skip the sugar.
Both tea and coffee are capable of providing drinkers with benefits. Despite all the research, there still is no conclusive answer as to which drink is the better health choice. Based on caffeine levels, tea might be better if you like drinking your beverages in large quantities. Otherwise, when consumed in moderation, both beverages make an excellent addition to an overall balanced diet.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/ask-a-health-expert/which-is-healthier-tea-or-coffee/article546635/
https://www.teatulia.com/caffeine-in-tea/tea-vs-coffee.html
https://www.health.com/food/coffee-or-tea-an-rd-weighs-in-on-which-is-healthier
The question can be analysed piecemeal.
CAFFEINE
Both coffee and several types of tea include caffeine, but coffee contains a much higher concentration. For this reason, those apt to drink large quantities are better off sticking to tea so that they don't exceed the daily recommendation of 300 milligrams. Drinking too much coffee can result in a high intake of caffeine which can disrupt sleep and rob calcium from bones (if you consume too little calcium from foods). And some studies suggest that high intakes of caffeine during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.
ANTIOXIDANTS
Coffee has its advantages, but tea wins in the war of the antioxidants. While green tea is most commonly associated with antioxidants, white tea actually contains more. Coffee also contains antioxidants, but in a much lower concentration than white tea.
Studies have determined that both coffee and tea have health benefits. Providing you don't load your coffee – or tea – with sugar and cream, either can be a good source of certain nutrients and antioxidants linked to disease prevention.
TEA:
Fresh tea leaves are an incredibly rich source of phytochemicals called catechins, which have potent antioxidant properties. In fact, tea is one of the highest sources of antioxidants in the normal diet. When it comes to health, most of the research has focused on green tea suggesting the beverage may help lower the risk of certain cancers (breast, ovarian) and heart disease. Regular black tea drinkers have also been found to have a lower risk of developing heart disease.
Tea boasts a long list of health benefits. The rich antioxidants in tea fight inflammation, and have been shown to help prevent blood vessels from hardening. Tea drinkers have a significantly lower risk of stroke and heart disease, and tea is known to boost brain health. One study, for example, found that compared with older adults who drank less than three cups a week, those who drank more than two cups of green tea a day had a significantly lower risk of age-related declines in memory. Regular tea drinkers also have higher bone density levels and slower rates of bone loss. Overall it's associated with anti-aging: research shows that the cells of regular tea drinkers have a younger biological age than non-drinkers.
As regards the cons of tea, the first one is purely cosmetic - stained teeth. Another is the potential impact on your iron levels due to tanins, a type of antioxidant that interferes with the absorption of non-heme, or plant-based iron from foods like greens and beans. In one classic 1982 study drinking tea with a meal resulted in a 62% reduction in iron absorption compared to 35% for coffee.
COFFEE:
The good news about coffee just keeps on coming. A brand new Harvard study found that those who drink about three to five cups of coffee a day may be less likely to die prematurely from some diseases than those who drink less or no coffee. A rich source of antioxidants, regular coffee consumption has also been linked to protection against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and certain cancers.
The strongest evidence for coffee's health benefits centre around diabetes. Drinking coffee – at least three cups per day – has been linked to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a number of studies. Coffee – caffeinated and decaffeinated – contains an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to dampen inflammation in the body, reduce glucose (sugar) absorption and improve how the body uses insulin, the hormone that lowers blood glucose. Coffee also contains magnesium, a mineral linked to blood sugar regulation.
The disadvantages of coffee: Coffee has long had a reputation for bone issues, but it remains unclear how significant the effects are. One study found that a high intake of four or more cups of coffee a day reduced bone density by 2-4%, but the effect didn't translate to an increased risk of fracture. However, if you already have low bone density coffee consumption is something you should discuss with your physician.
So what's better for you – coffee or tea? That really depends on you. If you are not sensitive to caffeine and don't suffer heartburn, both coffee and tea are considered healthy especially if you skip the sugar.
Both tea and coffee are capable of providing drinkers with benefits. Despite all the research, there still is no conclusive answer as to which drink is the better health choice. Based on caffeine levels, tea might be better if you like drinking your beverages in large quantities. Otherwise, when consumed in moderation, both beverages make an excellent addition to an overall balanced diet.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/ask-a-health-expert/which-is-healthier-tea-or-coffee/article546635/
https://www.teatulia.com/caffeine-in-tea/tea-vs-coffee.html
https://www.health.com/food/coffee-or-tea-an-rd-weighs-in-on-which-is-healthier
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