Drinking coffee is as American as apple pie. You might think we invented the stuff, with a coffee house on every corner.
Green tea has become the first choice for the health food crowd, and coffee is often considered risky. Coffee packs more of a wallop due to the higher caffeine content. Although green tea does contain caffeine, the antioxidant content may provide an acceptable trade-off. But is coffee unhealthy?
What is the truth?
Coffee acts as a stimulant by blocking a brain chemical called Adenosine. This increases other brain chemicals called Dopamine and Norepinephrine. These increase the firing of neurons, which means a temporary increase of brain activity. This may be why coffee can lower risk of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Coffee contains small amounts of B vitamins and minerals. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of Type II Diabetes. It may be the magnesium and chromium in coffee that helps regulate blood sugar levels. So, it is not necessarily the caffeine that is beneficial and decaffeinated coffee seems to have similar effects. Coffee also seems to protect the liver and decrease the risk of some types of cancer. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/coffee-new-health-food#1 It lowers the risk of heart arrhythmia and decreases the risk of stroke in women.
Coffee may increase blood pressure, so the benefits must be weighed against the risks. Moderate coffee drinking appears to be safe during pregnancy (2 cups per day) but higher amounts may have an association with miscarriage. https://www.livestrong.com/article/128501-negative-health-effects-drinking-coffee/ Coffee may cause dehydration, which can stress kidneys and interfere with the removal of cellular wastes. So, if you choose to drink it, be sure to also drink water and take a trace mineral supplement. Trace minerals are the ones you need in smaller amounts, like manganese and copper.
White, green, and black teas are all derived from the leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The younger leaves are white. An oxidation process turns the leaves green, to brown, to black. The flavor becomes richer, but the antioxidant level drops.
The antioxidant level is also determined by how the tea is prepared. Black tea requires short steeping in very hot water. White tea requires longer steeping to release the antioxidants. Green tea is best prepared when steeped in cold water for two hours. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151216120154.htm
White tea contains the least amount of caffeine. It also contains the greatest health benefits in the form of polyphenols, which have immune boosting properties. Women who drink tea may see a reduction in estrogen levels and therefore cancer protective since some cancers are sensitive to estrogen.
If you are sensitive to the caffeine in coffee, that may indicate an issue of weak adrenals. Add sugar and both your adrenals and your blood sugar may be adversely affected, spiking and then crashing. Stevia is a safer choice for sweetening tea or coffee. And if you prefer cream in your coffee, adding butter, coconut oil or MCT oil avoids the dairy. MCT oil is medium-chain triglycerides, which refers to the type of oil. Coconut oil contains MCT, but also contains other types of triglycerides. Triglyceride is a scientific name for fats. Eating triglycerides in the form of coconut oil will not raise the level in your blood. And may increase your "good" cholesterol and lower your "bad". Your brain needs a lot of good fat and oils, and your heart and brain are buddies, so don't worry about eating unrefined natural fats. It is the sugar and bread that gets yo and cause the tire tummy and heart risk.
Regardless of whether you like coffee, tea or both, I always encourage people to seek out organic versions, since the non-organic coffee and tea plants are heavily sprayed with pesticides.
Both coffee and tea are really water-extracted herbs. Both have some benefits. Having practiced for many years in England, I have seen either one become addictive, so use wisely. Knowing your own body’s reactions and sensitivities is often the best guideline. This only comes with eating real unprocessed foods so that you can gauge the difference when your body protests.
These delightful herbal beverages have shaped our culture and our history from the days of the East Indian Company to the Boston Tea Party to the presence of Starbucks in most towns in the U.S.A. And there are many strong opinions about coffee vs. tea. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it that the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”
My advice-find the healthiest way to enjoy them (or not) for yourself. I love both. Organic, of course!
Coffee vs. Tea