Coffee Or Tea?

Coffee Or Tea?

Whether it be Starbucks, Second Cup, or Tim Horton’s, morning rush hour line ups are very common. More than likely, there are more coffee drinkers than there are tea lovers. But which one poses more health risks or benefits? Here are some of the pros and cons of drinking either coffee or tea.

Benefits of black coffee (based on an intake of 4-5 cups/day):

• Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors which inhibits brain excitatory neurotransmittors (this leads to increased mental awareness)
• Studies show improved input processing
• Other studies show lowered anxiety, increased self-confidence
• The World Cancer Research Fund (2007) published a report that shows that coffee drinking is not a causal factor in the development of cancer at any body site, and may be protective in relation to liver, lower bowel and ovarian cancer.
• Cup of coffee provides useful amounts of caffeine, which may help you to increase your performance, postpone muscle fatique as well as exercise for longer before exhaustion.
• Shown to have anti-oxidants which protects against free-radical damage
• Decrease risk of diseases such as heart disease, gallbladder disease, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

http://www.positivelycoffee.org/
http://www.coffeedetective.com/coffee-benefits.html

Benefits of tea:

• Contains anti-oxidant properties
• Less caffeine than coffee so you don’t experience the jitters, indigestion or sleeplessness
• Can reduce heart attacks and strokes
• Can protect bones from teas’ beneficial phytochemicals
• Tea contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay, preventing dental cavities and gingivitis
• Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection
• Polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, possess cancer-fighting effects
• Increase metabolism- can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/h/health_benefits_of_tea.htm
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/top-10-health-benefits-drinking-tea.html
Disadvantages of coffee:

• One of the most heavily sprayed crops, and is often contaminated with pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.
• As a stimulant coffee can be addictive and could cause jitters and anxiety when consumed in large amounts.
• Can stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, increase heartburn and indigestion
• Increase blood pressure
• May increase blood levels of homocysteine and the associated risk of cardiovascular disease.

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/articles/index.cfm/id/24838
Disadvantages of tea:

• Although oxalates in tea are unlikely to be a problem for most people, in certain susceptible individuals too much oxalate could increase the risk of kidney stones.
• Is high in tannins which reduces the absorption of certain minerals such as iron (add lemon to offset this)
• Could experience negative effects of caffeine such as anxiety, palpitations, increased blood pressure
• Some tea bags are manufactured with a chemical known as epichlorohydrin which produces a known cancer causing chemical when exposed to water (use loose tea leaves to avoid this risk)

http://www.ehow.com/how_5053158_understand-health-risks-drinking-tea.html
While studies show the health benefits and risks of coffee seem to balance, in the long run, consuming tea seems to contribute more positively to your health.