What are the health benefits of coffee versus tea?
We asked an RD to share the essential information about how they compare.
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Its a debate as old as time.
board-certified sports dietitian
Is one really more nutritionally sound?
Does one offer more lasting benefits than the other?
A nutritional breakdown of coffee versus tea, according to a registered dietitian
1.
This is due to thecatechinsfound in tea, which are a key in of antioxidant connected to brain health.
Black tea is another richsource of antioxidants.
But coffee packs anantioxidant rich punch, too.
Studies show that coffee is rich in the antioxidantshydrocinnamic acidsandpolyphenols, among others.
(Considerably more than thefour-cup-per-day cutoffthat doctors often recommend.)
When it comes to antioxidants and healthy aging, tea and coffee are both winners.
board-certified sports dietitian
Caffeine
Jitters are more common with high caffeine content, and coffee generally has much more caffeine than tea.
This may also be a good reason for cutting back oncoffee when sick.
Caffeine also stimulates your heart rate and breathing, which can make people feel jumpy.
If youre in that camp, tea could be a good option for you.
Coffee also increases epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which mayhelp you run or cycle faster.
Digestion
Speaking of which.
This can cause stomach discomfort, but can also stimulate your digestion and help you poop.
Mental health and cognition
Remember that l-theanine from before?
That plus the caffeine in tea has been shown to improve cognitive function, says Gans.
She adds that research solely on L-theanine revealed that it may have also have a calming effect.
The increased alertness you feel after drinking caffeine can happen with both coffee and tea.
Learn more about the health benefits of coffee from Lockwood Beckerman in this video:
5.
She adds that surprisingly, coffee stains teeth less that dark teas.
Drink the one that sparks joyor, better yet, drink both.
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