COFFEE OR TEA – Which drink is better for you?
Coffee is something I always prefer over tea, not because it is considered healthier or something like that, but I love the taste. Tea on the other hand has more of the ayurvedic flavour (Masala chai) which I prefer in the colder months or when I feel sick since it has immunity boosting properties. Tea has gained popularity for its benefits over the years and coffee is always considered unhealthy. Here we break the myths and compare these two drinks, so that you know which ones healthier and better:
TASTE
Coffee comes from different regions of the world and they all taste different. Coffee though has a typical bitter and pleasant taste that we all love. Some like it with a sweetener while some prefer it without a sweetener. Tea on the other hand does not taste as great as coffee especially ginger tea, green tea, plain black tea etc. Masala chai on the other hand tastes good with all the spices and milk and this tea is mostly preferred.
CAFFEINE
Caffeine is great in moderate quantities since it wakes you up and is great in the morning. Caffeine gives you energy by blocking adenosine which is a neurotransmitter that signals your brain to rest. Coffee is said to have higher caffeine than tea. One cup of brewed coffee contains around 100 milligrams of caffeine while teas usually range between 50-70 milligrams of the same amount. If you are having sleepless night, avoid coffee and tea (tea too contains caffeine after all) both 4-5 hours before bedtime.
ENERGY
Coffee and tea both give us energy, and that is the reason why we drink it in the morning. Since coffee contains more caffeine than tea, naturally it will provide more energy. But, there is another reason too- coffee behaves a bit differently; caffeine from coffee is instantly absorbed in the stream giving you a jolt of energy while tea works slow.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Tea and coffee both have amazing health benefits provided you consume it in moderate quantities. Coffee contains key nutrients like potassium, manganese, magnesium and niacin. It is also said to lower the risk of type-2 diabetes and cancers. Tea helps decrease inflammation in the body, improves insulin sensitivity, promotes mouth health and decreases rick of heart related diseases.
MENTAL BENEFITS
We all know that caffeine in tea and coffee has great mental benefits of keeping us alert and focused. But there are more mental benefits: Coffee and tea both reduces the risk of alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease and helps with depression.
PROTEIN
Who knew coffee has a touch of protein?? Coffee contains 0.3 grams of protein per cup while tea does not contain any protein at all.
FOLATE
Tea is great to have when you are anaemic. Didn’t know this right? Tea contains good amounts of folate that prevents and treats anaemia while coffee has only negligible amounts of that compound. Tea contains 6% of foliate per cup while coffee contains only 2%.
THE BOTTOM LINE
It appears that coffee is great in most aspects while tea too isn’t that bad. Tea is great in some points while coffee is great in the other. To lead a healthy life, you need to have both in moderate quantities. If you are a tea person, have more masala chai or masala tea as it has the highest health benefits. You can also add some healthy ingredients into your coffee like cinnamon, peppermint etc. to make it more nutritious.
WHAT TO BUY:
Always buy organic tea and coffee to avoid pesticides.