Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world, second only to water. However, only one in five American adults drink tea.
Are we missing something?
The most current research on tea and coffee indicates they are equally beneficial for us. In the U.S., caffeinated coffee is the way most of us start our day and how we give ourselves an afternoon boost. We may switch to decaffeinated coffee in the evening, but it is uncommon for us to switch completely to tea.
But, is one better for you?
- Both contain antioxidants that protect healthy tissue from free radicals which can damage cells and cause disease.
- Both can contain caffeine. An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains 80 mg of caffeine while an eight-ounce cup of tea contains 40 mg of caffeine. According the American Heart Association, one to two cups of a caffeinated beverage per day is not harmful.
- Both can decrease the risk of a variety of diseases. Tea is thought to be more effective in decreasing the risks of women’s health-related diseases.
Most people are either a committed tea drinker or a committed coffee drinker. Regardless, we can relax and enjoy our beverage of choice knowing that we are getting antioxidants and potentially reducing our risk for a variety of diseases.
Note: Herbal teas may not actually contain “tea.” They are made up of roots, herbs, flowers and spices, so the benefits attributed to tea and coffee is not applicable to herbal teas unless they contain green or black tea leaves.
