Tea vs Coffee Which is Healthier?

The age old comparison and question “to tea or not to tea?” Or should it be the case as a fridge magnet that we have at home states ‘No coffee no workee.’

Both beverages are extremely popular worldwide and personally one signals a break from the stress and pace of the world and a relaxing few moments of contemplation while the other signals, oh crap, I’m on a deadline and I need to get this analysis and presentation done!

Coffee for me, being the latter and I didn’t say the ‘latte’ for you punsters reading this. Ok silly jokes aside, which one is better and why?

Well, firstly, tea tops, coffee in consumption worldwide. In fact, tea is second only to water in worldwide consumption. So Tea is leading one zero so far.

Not so fast, tea. Because coffee has a definite advantage over tea for energy boosting effects, that quick boost of energy oh and even for endurance, and mental tasks too, and reaction time.

Coffee wins the title for energy boosting and endurance because of the stimulant effect of caffeine, and the average cup of coffee has twice the amount of caffeine versus a cup of tea.

Hold on there now. That's 3 to one in coffee’s favor. Coffee is showing its powerful form and amazing ability to make us super performers.

‘But, But Polyphenols!’ Shouts tea, trying to retrieve some relevance, and tea makes a superb point. Polyphenols are plant nutrients that have amazing health benefits for us. These have an antioxidant effect and they have anticancer effects, and boost digestion and brain health and also have a positive influence in protecting against type2 diabetes.

Polyphenols originate in plant sources and are also present in red wine, dark chocolate and berries. They are powerful plant compounds.

The powerful polyphenol compounds like, ‘thearubigins, catechins’ and ‘theaflavins’ that exist in tea.

Coffee is reeling now, having been sucker punched by tea. Coffee has his back against the ropes. He is going to have to fight his way out. Suddenly, coffee sends a right hook to the jaw of tea. Coffee too has strong antioxidant properties and compounds, being rich in flavonoids and chlorogenic acid (CGA).

Tea is staggering, but regains its posture and throws some punches, as studies show that tea has some amazing benefits, like prohibiting and fighting lung and colon cancer and may even positively combat leukemia.

Coffee now has stepped back after the one, two combo from tea, and finds strength from somewhere to throw his own combination, as studies reveal that coffee too has major health benefits against cancer cell growth and gastrointestinal and liver cancer protection.

Both beverages are now swaying in the middle of the ring.

They both take one last swing at each other and this final battle is over heart disease, but it’s a draw. They both have a positive effect on heart disease, according to studies, as they tumble to the mat.

What have I learnt from the effects of the two beverages?

I enjoy both, But personally when I need a quick boost, coffee is my go to beverage, or when I need a pick me up before a workout. When I want contemplation and deep thought, tea works for me.

I drink both during the day starting the day with some tea, and then mid morning coffee, then tea again in the afternoon and my last cup of coffee at around 3pm. I am not too caffeine sensitive, so it does not affect my sleep.

In between I drink water too, as I believe that tea and coffee, particularly, can put a strain on the kidneys. Now for my disclaimer. This article is not health advice but is merely my opinion based on the research and my daily routine. Each person should decide what is healthy for them and act accordingly.