Is Tea Healthier Than Coffee?
For some, nothing gets you ready to take on the day better than a hot cup of coffee. What many don't realize is that, although coffee is not essentially unhealthy, tea can be a better alternative. Although most tea does contain some caffeine, it is chock full of beneficial nutrients as well.
Extensive research has been conducted on the health benefits of tea and coffee. Although research has indicated that coffee does have some health benefits, these are far outweighed by the health benefits of tea. Almost all tea contains high levels of anti-oxidants, which are nutrients and vitamins that help purge the human body of toxins.
Green tea, an extremely popular drink around the world, is perhaps the healthiest variety. Research indicates that green tea can help prevent cancer, fight plaque on teeth, and lower cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. In addition, some believe that drinking green tea may slow the aging process by giving the body large amounts of antioxidants several times more powerful than vitamin E.
Tea can also act as a mild pain reliever. This is due the high levels of quercetin found in tea. Although not strong enough to treat serious pain, the quercetin found in tea can benefit victims of mild arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
Although many choose to drink coffee for its strong taste and high levels of caffeine, the caffeine that is present in coffee can be its downfall with many consumers. If you drink too much coffee you may feel anxious and jumpy. Often, this is followed by a "crash," or sudden loss of energy. This is because, with coffee, the body absorbs a large amount of caffeine quickly, and therefore processes it quickly. As previously mentioned, there is much less caffeine in tea, and it is absorbed into the blood stream slower, which may prevent the caffeine crash. Caffeine does have one saving grace, and that is its ability to relax the airways in the lung, which can be a great benefit for those suffering from asthma.
In short, yes, tea is healthier than coffee. This is of course not to say that coffee is bad for you. The benefits of drinking tea, however, far outweigh any possible benefits of drinking coffee, unless your only goal is to receive a large dose of caffeine.
Written by A.E. Jaquith
