Jan 21, 2016 4 min read Sips

GUEST POST: Why you should drink tea over coffee… a few benefits

GUES POST: To some, drinking coffee is more of an addiction than simply a drink, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why tea is considered a better alternative to coffee.

From the Tea-Guy.com Archives

Ever since tea was discovered by the Chinese back in 2000 BC, it has been considered the most widely consumed beverage next to water.

To some, drinking coffee is more of an addiction than simply a drink, and this is perhaps one of the reasons why tea is considered a better alternative to coffee.

That said, in the U.S., coffee is the king of beverages. Various research reveals that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet, partly because of the volume consumed.

Despite the antioxidants contained in coffee, sipping it excessively can have negative impacts on your health.

Let’s take a look at a head-to-head comparison between tea and coffee and learn why you should start drinking tea instead of coffee.

Tea contains less caffeine

The amount of caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee (8 oz) is between 95-200 mg, whereas that of tea lies between 14-70 mg.

For most healthy adults, 400 mg of caffeine intake per day appears to be safe. However, for adolescents, it is recommended that caffeine intake should be less than 100 mg per day. Experts suggest that younger children should avoid caffeinated beverages altogether.

Even for adults, heavy caffeine intake can cause insomnia, nervousness, upset stomach, and a fast heartbeat.

Among the different types of teas, black tea and green tea are well known for their caffeine content. The caffeine content in a green tea variant like Matcha tea is about 70 mg per cup.

How it affects you

Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. In fact, how your body reacts to caffeine depends on your consumption habits. Those who don’t regularly drink caffeine tend to show stronger negative effects. Other factors, such as body mass, age, and health conditions, also influence caffeine sensitivity.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants help you stay young and healthy, and tea has them in abundance. Both tea and coffee are high in antioxidants that help neutralize unhealthy free radicals in your body.

All types of tea come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Once the tea leaves are picked, they are wilted and oxidized. According to the National Cancer Institute, tea contains polyphenol compounds, which are antioxidants that might aid in cancer prevention.

A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reveals that tea drinkers consume 20 times more flavonoid antioxidants per day than non-tea drinkers.

Even though coffee has more antioxidants per cup than tea, excessive coffee consumption is linked to jitters, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate. Due to these side effects, drinking more than two cups of coffee daily is not recommended.

While tea contains fewer antioxidants per cup than coffee, it can be consumed throughout the day, making it a better long-term source of antioxidants. Most people can safely drink 6-8 cups of tea daily.

Tea protects you from diseases

Drinking tea regularly can help protect you from several diseases.

Help you shed unwanted pounds

Drinking tea activates an enzyme that helps burn more calories.

Lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Catechin compounds in green tea have been shown to have protective effects on neurons, which may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Benefits for diabetes patients

Some common symptoms of diabetes include high blood sugar levels, reduced insulin secretion, and excessive thirst. Studies suggest that white tea consumption can help prevent these symptoms.
Source: Study

Though coffee also has health benefits, such as reducing the risk of diabetes and liver disease, excessive consumption can negatively impact your health.

Adrenal fatigue

Studies show that coffee increases stress hormones, which can cause wear and tear on your body. When your adrenal glands can’t keep up with stress, adrenal fatigue occurs. If your glands are already stressed, drinking more coffee may worsen the problem.
Sources: [1], [2]

Health of bones and teeth

Multiple studies have revealed that drinking tea positively affects teeth and bone health.

Flavonoids in tea may protect bones during aging.
Black tea helps prevent brittle bones.
Flavonoids are linked to lowering cancer and heart disease risk.
Three cups of tea daily can cut the risk of bone fractures in the elderly by almost a third.
Each cup of tea consumed lowers the risk of hip fractures by 9%.

Drinking tea may also help reduce the risk of dental cavities by reducing inflammation in the mouth and preventing bacteria growth.
Sources: [1], [2]

In fact, black tea combats two types of bacteria—Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus—that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Although tooth enamel is one of the hardest substances in the human body, it contains microscopic pits and ridges that can trap food and drink particles. Studies show that drinking brewed teas results in less enamel loss than drinking soft drinks or fruit juices.