Tea or Coffee: Which One Is Better for You?

It’s a battle that’s been waged at breakfast tables and in research laboratories worldwide for decades. Which drink does more in terms of antioxidants, reducing inflammation, boosting metabolism, cognition, or overall good health?

No matter which beverage you prefer, each has its own set of distinctive benefits. Here is a breakdown of what researchers have learned and the potential benefits of both.

Comparisons and History

Both tea plants and coffee plants are members of the evergreen family and respond to soil and environmental conditions or terroir where it is grown. The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and the coffee plant (Coffea arabica) can grow into small trees, but each is pruned to keep them shrub-sized when grown for commercial harvest. 

The use of tea as a beverage can be traced back to 2737 BCE, when Chinese Emperor Shen Nong discovered it. On the other hand, coffee made its earliest debut as a beverage in the 9th or 10th Century AD in Ethiopia or Yemen. Over time, both beverages grew in popularity, and their consumption spread around the world. 

The Lowdown on Caffeine

While it is true that both coffee and tea contain caffeine, the ways in which this is measured are quite different. That first jolt of caffeine in the morning is what gets many people going in the morning. 

Did you know that raw tea has higher levels of caffeine than raw coffee? However, the brewing process for coffee extracts more caffeine out of coffee than tea. While coffee generally gives a bit more caffeine at the start of the day, both black and green teas offer more of a slow burn to keep you going longer. 

A single 8-ounce cup of coffee has between 80-185 milligrams of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of tea has just 15-70 milligrams of caffeine. Health experts generally agree that it’s a good idea not to consume more than 400 mg. of caffeine per day.

Caffeine will help more neurons in your brain to fire to give you a feeling of increased alertness, improve overall cognitive function and reaction time, and even boost your mood. While all of this can be a good thing, if too much caffeine is consumed, it can cause anxiety, headaches, stomach upset, and increased heart rate, heart palpitations, and blood pressure.

Of course, consuming a moderate level of caffeine throughout the day isn’t a bad thing. However, drinking a cup of coffee at night or close to bedtime can make it more difficult to fall asleep. 

On the other hand, researchers have found that drinking a cup of green tea, even before bedtime, can help you feel more relaxed and help you to feel more refreshed when you wake up the next day.

Antioxidants, Health, & Longevity

Can consuming coffee or tea potentially help improve or even lengthen your life? Perhaps. Researchers have found subtle ways in which both may help, but do so in somewhat different ways.

• According to some reports, those who consume either coffee or tea are much less likely to face a much-reduced rate of stroke, cirrhosis of the liver, the development of diabetes, and can slow the onset of Alzheimer’s or other cognitive diseases. Tea contains the powerful antioxidant Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG and theaflavin. Some reports state theaflavin may act as powerful inhibitors to slow the growth of some forms of cancer cells.
• Because caffeine boosts metabolism, ongoing studies have shown that for those who suffer from slight to chronic asthma consuming moderate levels of caffeine can help to either prevent the onset of or lessen the severity of an asthma attack.
• Both coffee and tea contain vitamins and minerals. While coffee does tend to be richer in B vitamins, including B2, B3, tea contains 16% higher levels of Manganese on average. While the levels of iron found in either are approximately the same, tea contains much higher levels of calcium ( up to 450% higher) than coffee. This is an especially important consideration for those who are concerned with bone density levels and osteoporosis.
• Research has shown that tea contains properties that inhibit the growth of mouth bacteria that contribute to dental disease and tooth loss. This is believed to be because of tea’s antioxidants and naturally-occurring fluoride compounds.
• An added potential benefit for those who prefer to drink tea, the antioxidants may help the body fight off the effects of environmental factors that can take their toll on our skin and overall health, and boost the immune system overall.

As you can see, both drinks can offer their own set of potential health benefits. Our founder, Sir Jason Winters, started our company because he learned from others about the potentially positive properties found in tea and other herbs and supplements. We are proud to offer the finest quality herbs and supplements available.

For our blog readers, we would like to invite you to try our line of delicious teas and dietary supplements today. For just $11.35, only for the month of October, and while supplies last, we are offering a 35% savings on all varieties of our Sir Jason Winters 4 ounce Pre-Brewed teas! 

What better way to try Sir Jason Winters Teas for yourself and at significant savings? Be sure to take advantage of some of the best pricing for this year and order today.

Please note that all information provided in this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition or replace the advice of a physician. Before consuming any supplement, please speak with your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.

Resources

“The Tea Box” by Gilles Brochard. 2001, Barron’s Educational Series, New York NY 

“The Everything Healthy Tea Book: Discover the Healing Benefits of Tea” by Babette Donaldson, 2014, Adams Media, New York, NY

 The Health Benefits of Coffee vs. Tea: How They Each Boost Digestion, Longevity, and More” by Allie Finn, 25 August 2021. web.