Tea is the world’s most commonly consumed beverage after water and Coffee is also extremely popular too.
Drinking coffee or green tea is associated with many health benefits, such as better cardiovascular health, lower inflammation levels, and a reduced risk for developing chronic disease.
People consume green tea and coffee for their characteristic taste and health benefits.
Caffeine content
Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant drug worldwide, and it’s naturally found in coffee and tea. In fact, coffee and tea are often the most predominant sources of caffeine in a person’s diet. However, coffee provides more than three times the amount of caffeine than green tea. An 8-ounce (240 mL) serving of coffee provides 96 mg of caffeine, while the same amount of green tea provides 29 mg.
According to research, intakes of 400 mg of caffeine per day are considered safe for adults. However, the recommended limit drops to 100 mg per day for teenagers and 2.5 mg/kg per day for children.
Caffeine is one of the most studied substances, due to its multiple beneficial health effects. These include:
- increased energy levels, alertness, attention, and wakefulness
- lowered mental and physical fatigue
- quickened reaction times and improved accuracy
- enhanced exercise performance
- improved memory and mood
Evidence also suggests caffeine has protective effects on brain health, reducing the risk of dementia and other degenerative diseases.
Some studies have even linked caffeine intake with a lowered risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
However, research on caffeine and diabetes seems inconclusive, and further evidence suggests that it may actually increase blood sugar levels.
Scientists need to do more research on the potential effects of caffeine.
Health benefits
Green tea and coffee have multiple health benefits in common, including their high antioxidant content and weight loss effects.
Great antioxidant sources
Free radicals play numerous beneficial roles in your body. However, in excess, they lead to oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is a harmful process that can negatively affect your health by causing disease and speeding up the aging process.
Luckily, coffee and green tea are loaded with antioxidants — compounds with beneficial effects against oxidative stress.
They’re both particularly rich in a group of antioxidants called polyphenols. In both drinks, these are responsible for many of their benefits and flavor.
Weight loss effects
There are several pieces of evidence that prove that both beverages can be effective when trying to lose weight. It also good to know that the elements present in both beverage helps promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which helps burn fat and improve insulin sensitivity, among other beneficial effects.
Furthermore, studies have found that caffeine is associated with weight loss. It appears to:
- reduce hunger
- increase calorie burning
- activate a type of fat called brown adipose tissue (BAT), whose quantities decrease as you age
BAT has the potential to produce large amounts of heat and modulate fat and glucose metabolism.
Potential downsides
Though both coffee and green tea is known for their benefits, they may also have some drawbacks.
On one hand, added ingredients — such as sweeteners, creamers, and flavored syrups — may significantly increase your coffee or tea’s calorie and sugar count.
Research shows that sweetened coffee and tea are among the foods that contribute to high sugar intake in adults. This is associated with weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and dental cavities.
On the other hand, even though caffeine is considered a beneficial drug, consuming too much of it may lead to unwanted side effects, such as caffeine-induced anxiety and sleep disorders.
Evidence suggests that chronic intakes of caffeine may lead to increased alertness and anxiety. If consumed in high doses of over 400 mg per day, it can worsen symptoms of anxiety, panic disorder, and insomnia.
Furthermore, caffeine use may lead to caffeine dependence in some people. Those who have caffeine dependence may have caffeine withdrawal and may continue to use caffeine despite experiencing harmful effects.
There’s evidence that oils naturally present in coffee, including cafestol and kahweol, may increase blood cholesterol levels.
An analysis of studies found that consuming coffee made without a paper filter was associated with increased total and LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. However, the authors found that people’s cholesterol levels didn’t rise when they drank coffee that was made using a paper coffee filter.
Which is better
Green tea and coffee are both safe beverages that provide you with the benefits of caffeine and antioxidants. Both are also associated with a decreased risk of certain diseases.
Coffee’s higher caffeine content may more easily lead to caffeine dependence compared with that of green tea.
On the flip side, coffee would be a more suitable choice if you’re looking for increased alertness or improved physical performance. Determining which is better ultimately comes down to your specific needs.
The bottom line
Green tea and coffee are two healthy staple drinks in many people’s diets.
They share many health benefits, such as anticancer effects and weight loss properties due to their caffeine and antioxidant content.
They also share the potential downsides associated with commonly added ingredients, such as sugar, creamers, and flavored syrups.
Considering coffee’s higher caffeine content and green tea’s L-theanine content may help you decide which one is better for you.
Green Tea and Coffee are both healthy and safe. Green Tea may be a better choice for people with anxiety or insomnia. In contrast, coffee may suit you better if you’re looking for increased alertness or improved physical performance.
But when it comes to overall health then green tea is more beneficial than blackcoffee. It is rich in antioxidants and has numerous proven health benefits.
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