Both coffee and tea provide a range of health benefits among regular drinkers. As people enjoy their time sipping on their favorite choice of beverage, one question still remains - which is better: coffee or tea?
Time Magazine reports nutrition expert Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD has listed the significant pros and cons in both coffee and tea. While it's good to be aware of the benefits we get from drinking a few cups, it is also necessary to realize why we should limit our intake.
Drinking three cups of tea a day has been proven to fight inflammation, help stop blood vessels from hardening, reduce risks for stroke and heart disease, and improve memory. According to one study, those who regularly drank more than two cups of Green tea had lowered their risks for age-related memory declines compared to those who drank less than three cups.
Those who drink tea everyday also have increased bone density which helps slow down bone loss. In fact, tea drinkers are associated to having younger cells which lessens the threat of aging.
Tea, however, stains the teeth and contains antioxidants that block iron absorption from plant-based food. To improve absorption, one health tip is to consume it with iron-rich plants with Vitamin C such as bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries and kiwi.
Drinking three to five cups of coffee a day, on the other hand, combats type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer and premature death. While studies on its benefits keep on coming in, coffee, however, contain higher levels of caffeine which may leave you "overly stimulated, jittery, and anxious."
According to Dr. Sass, it is best to avoid adding sweeteners to coffee or tea to enjoy their full benefits.
Whatever you choose, Sass suggests drinkers should "be sure you aren't using the caffeine in either tea or coffee as a crutch to mask fatigue from too little sleep."
"And if either beverage leaves you feeling zapped of energy, either from the caffeine or what you're adding to it," Sass advises you to "wean down your intake and up the H2O, the ultimate health-boosting beverage."
