Overview
Coffee and tea are among the world’s most consumed beverages. They offer a myriad of benefits that affect most organs.
With that said, there is still an ongoing debate about the superiority of one beverage over the other. Some people think that coffee is better due to its antioxidants, whereas others believe that the soothing effects of tea make it a more appealing choice.
In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of drinking coffee and tea, then contrast the two of them.
Coffee Vs. Tea – caffeine content
Taking stimulants to up your game would certainly be helpful at some point. Caffeine is by far the most common stimulant in the world.
We can find caffeine in tea and coffee. It also offers a number of benefits when consumed rationally. As a general rule of thumb, coffee contains twice the amount of caffeine compared to tea. However, this is not always a positive thing.
The purpose of consuming caffeine is to pump your body with energy to complete your tasks. Anything extra, and you will start seeing side effects, such as jitteriness, insomnia, and tachycardia (i.e., rapid heart rate).
Researchers estimate that 400 mg of caffeine per day is appropriate for human consumption. For reference, a cup of brewed coffee has around 95 mg of caffeine. The same cup filled with tea would only contain 47 mg.
Despite the clear dose difference, studies suggest that both coffee and tea offer similar health benefits. These include a lower risk of chronic diseases, improved mood, optimized cognitive function (e.g., concentration, memory), and boosted physical performance.
Is one better than the other?
It is true that coffee has more caffeine per serving relative to tea. However, it also seems to cause more side effects.
Additionally, some individuals are intolerant to excess amounts of caffeine, which leads to several complications.
Here are some side effects when you consume too much caffeine:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Mood disturbances
- Tachycardia
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue the next day
On the other end of the spectrum, coffee has many benefits beyond its caffeine content. Coffee beans contain several nutrients that compensate for any potential deficiencies you may develop.
According to reports, a single cup of coffee contains the following nutrients:
- Vitamin B2 – 11% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Vitamin B5 – 6% of the RDI
- Manganese and potassium – 3% of the RDI
- Magnesium and vitamin B3 – 2% of the RDI
Takeaway message
Coffee and tea offer a lot of health benefits that mainly stem from their caffeine content. However, the other ingredients found in these beverages also play a role in modifying physiological functions.
We hope that this article helped you appreciate the different benefits of drinking tea versus coffee. Just remember that the key here is moderation.
Here’s to your health!
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Dr. Kevin Crawford