Coffee and tea are the most popular drinks in the world. They have a lot in common – both contain caffeine and antioxidants, for example. Taste preferences aside, how do you choose which one is better for you?
Both for energy
Though both drinks contain caffeine, one cup of coffee typically contains twice as much as the same amount of tea – 80- 100 mg vs 30-50 mg. Does it mean coffee awakens you better or faster? Surprisingly, no. There aren’t many studies that explore specifically the level of alertness both drinks provide, but those that do conclude that thanks to additional chemical compounds, like l-theanine, in tea, the results are approximately the same. Some scientists tend to think it’s not the caffeine in the drink specifically that provides the much-needed wake-up call but a reflex we develop from consuming our favourite drink in the morning. Sooner or later, our body learns to associate our morning cuppa with a boost of energy!
Tea for better sleep
While tea and coffee are equally powerful in the morning, researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK confirmed that coffee lovers find it more difficult to fall asleep at night. Tea supports longer and more restful sleep.
Read also: Food that makes you sleepy
Coffee for antioxidants
Coffee is the champion of antioxidants among all the guilty pleasures out there – think, tea, wine or chocolate. Drinking coffee in moderation can potentially prevent oxidative degradation – a chemical reaction that leads to cellular damage. It can also potentially help with treating chronic degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. A large study in 2015 found out that people who drink a moderate amount of caffeine have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and colon, uterine or liver cancer than people who do not consume any.
Tea for nerves
The British ‘tea and sympathy’ tradition didn’t come out of nowhere. There is evidence that tea soothes the nerves and that tea drinkers remain calmer in unknown or unsettling situations, while coffee overload is known for giving you the jitters and anxiety. Also, people who drink three cups a day have a 37% lower risk of depression than those who don’t drink it at all, while a cup of coffee a day reduces your risk of depression by only 8%.
Coffee for whiter teeth
Don’t get us wrong, both coffee and tea are more than capable of turning our pearly white grin into a shy yellow smile. But tea’s natural pigments are more likely to adhere to dental enamel, especially if your mouthwash contains chlorhexidine, known for attracting and binding microscopic colouring particles. If you’re committed to your coffee ritual, it may be a good idea to look at whitening options from Vogue Dental.
Tea for skin
Of course, nothing beats a good coffee scrub but when it comes to drinks, green tea is amazing for fighting the symptoms of skin ageing, treating acne, reducing redness and irritation and moisturising skin. Unlike coffee, tea doesn’t spike cortisol, and high levels of cortisol can worsen your acne, rosacea, and other conditions.
Both for weight loss
Caffeine increases the number of calories you burn by 3-14% in the three hours after consuming it. Since coffee contains more caffeine, it’s a more effective choice when it comes to calorie burn than tea. There are 12 small studies that suggest chlorogenic acid in coffee aids in weight loss and boosts fat metabolism.
On the other hand, tea polyphenols like theaflavin are helpful in preventing weight gain. Black tea polyphenols positively affect the diversity of the healthy bacteria in your gut, which also supports weight management.
