Tea vs. Coffee? Which is better for your health? Which gives you more energy? Are there links to health conditions? 

Both drinks contain caffeine, but coffee has more. When coffee is brewed, it is generally brewed at a higher temperature, which allows for more caffeine. Compare that to tea which is brewed at a lower temperature, but tea leaves have more natural occurring caffeine compared to unfiltered coffee beans. With coffee, we also consume the entire bean to get even more energy, and with tea you don’t drink the leaves themselves resulting in losing a large part of the natural caffeine. 

Normally an 8-ounce cup of coffee has 90-100 milligrams of caffeine, and that can change depending on what type of coffee you drink. The strongest teas only have 70-90 milligrams of caffeine. For tea, there are certain compounds that help to deliver your energy boost a little smoother than coffee does. With too much caffeine you can get jittery, shaky, migraines, and for some people nausea. If you are caffeine sensitive, I recommend tea over coffee. If you really need a quick energy boost, coffee is the way to go. 

Coffee and tea have been linked to some health benefits, and are similar in that way, but there are also some differences. Drinking tea or coffee can reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, metabolic syndrome, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They are both rich in antioxidants and that also helps fight against certain diseases. A review of 9 studies in 193,473 people showed that regularly drinking coffee significantly lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes. Coffee drinkers and tea drinkers will claim that their favorite beverage is the healthiest. When it comes down to it, studies have shown that both beverages offer significant health benefits. Just remember to drink coffee and tea in moderation since having 4-5 cups a day can cause health risks instead of benefits. 

With coffee, there is a link to weight loss. With the higher amount of caffeine, that means a faster metabolism. With a higher metabolism, that means your body is working faster digesting food and you then lose weight. Coffee has also been linked to enhancing physical performance, because you are getting more adrenaline than you would get if you didn’t drink coffee. 

There is not a real reason showing which drink is better for you, it just depends on what benefits you are looking for. If you need energy quickly or are trying to lose weight, coffee is probably the better option for you. If you don’t need as much caffeine, and need a more stable energy boost, tea is the better choice. You can also have a decaf option if you just like the taste of coffee or tea but don’t need the caffeine. It all depends on what you are looking for and what you need.

Sources used:

https://senchateabar.com/blogs/blog/tea-vs-coffee https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-vs-tea#better-choice