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It’s a question you often hear after finishing your entrée at a restaurant: “Would you like any coffee or tea?”
These two caffeinated drinks are two of the most popular beverages in the world, so it makes sense to hear them often compared side by side. Many people depend on their daily coffee or tea to give them an extra boost of energy and to enjoy the taste.
However, there have been questions over the years as to which drink is healthier. Many speculate as to what would happen to their bodies if they transitioned from one drink to the other.
As a huge coffee lover, I was disappointed with the results that popped up when I was researching to write this article. Tea does, in fact, provide more health benefits than coffee, but that’s not to say coffee is bad, either – the drink also has health benefits, just like tea.
Thinking about making the switch? Here is what will happen to your body after ditching your daily cup of joe.
“Coffee stains teeth.” Our dentists have drilled this into our heads over and over. And while we don’t want to hear it, it’s very true. One of the benefits of ditching coffee for tea is that your smile will be noticeably whiter. This is particularly true if you stick to white or green tea.
There are two compounds in coffee that can raise your cholesterol: cafestol and kahweol. These two compounds increase the levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol. However, WebMD says that LDL is only found in a French press or Turkish coffee. It’s also found in espresso in small quantities. If you drink drip coffee, you’re safe — the LDL gets filtered out.
Acid reflux can become a big problem amongst coffee drinkers. If you have constant heartburn or suffer from reflux, coffee may make the issue worse, due to its high acidity. People who have sensitive stomachs and suffer from stomach pain or gas may greatly benefit from switching over to tea.
Coffee has a greater amount of caffeine than tea does. The drink contains between 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine per cup, whereas tea contains between 6 to 60 milligrams, depending on the type. Therefore, those who switch may see improved sleep and less anxiety.
The only real negatives associated with switching over to tea are feeling less alert (due to the caffeine decrease) and an increase in headaches due to withdrawal. Not to worry, though – these will subside once your body has adjusted to the change.
With all this being said, I think it’s worth jumping back to my point in the begging of this article that coffee isn’t all that bad. TheHealthy.com did a piece that states the multiple benefits of consuming the drink that you may be giving up when you make the switch to tea.
–Decreased risk of cancer and other diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and dementia.
–Increased positivity in mood. Caffeine has been shown to have positive effects on the brain and increase alertness (P.S. – coffee has more caffeine than tea!)
–Enhanced memory retention. According to the journal Nature Neuroscience, “Caffeine enhanced performance 24 hours after administration…We conclude that caffeine enhanced consolidation of long-term memories in humans.”
So yes, people who choose to switch over to it will potentially see more health benefits. Better sleep, whiter teeth, and decreased stomach ailments are all positive side effects of making the jump.
However, the coffee vs. tea debate is popular for a reason. Many can’t picture their life without coffee, and some strongly dislike the taste of tea.
Both drinks have health benefits, and neither is necessarily “bad” for you. So whether you’re a coffee or a tea person, drink up – and feel good doing it!
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