Which is Healthier - Tea or Coffee?

Hello there, lovely readers!

Let's discuss the two most favourite beverages of all time, Tea and Coffee, and try to understand which is better for our bodies. 

Before that, let's learn about the wide varieties of these amazing beverages and their benefits, individually.


Popular types of tea: 

1. Green tea 

Green tea

Green tea offers multiple flavours. It is simply made by boiling water, and adding green tea leaves to it. Stir the leaves, strain and enjoy sipping! 

You can also use tea bags and hot water to prepare green tea in a jiffy.

Quick green tea with bags


Proven benefits:

  • It is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants (which may lower the risk of certain cancer types, like, prostate cancer, breast cancer etc).
  • Green tea may improve brain functioning, and prevent the brain from ageing soon.
  • It may reduce bad breath due to the presence of catechins (as catechins have the strong property of neutralizing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species). You may have also seen or tried mouthwashes with green tea as their core ingredient.
  • Regular consumption of green tea may help you lose weight, as it boosts your metabolic rate.

2. Black tea 

Black tea



Not only black tea is good for health, but it is also easy to make!

Boil some water and add a little amount of black tea leaves. Let it boil for a minute. Strain and enjoy!


PRO TIP -  Add some sweetener and lemon juice to enhance the flavour, and a soothing beverage, black lemon tea is ready!

Black lemon tea




Proven benefits:
  • Promotes heart health due to the presence of antioxidants (flavonoids).
  • It may help reduce blood pressure. Maintaining blood pressure is very essential as high BP increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, vision loss etc.
  • May lower the risk of high sugar, thereby decreasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

3. Herbal tea

Herbal teas are trendy nowadays. 

Chamomile mint tea



Chamomile and mint tea is a good example of herbal tea, and simple to make.

Just boil some water, and add chamomile flowers and mint leaves.
Stir for 3-4 minutes and let the water absorb its goodness.
Strain and sip in! 
Add honey (optional).

Proven benefits:

CHAMOMILE FLOWERS (BABUNE KA PHOOL):

Beauty of Chamomile


  • These flowers contain anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Chamomile promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality.
  • It is relieving for digestive issues, as well.

MINT LEAVES (PUDINA):

Grow fresh mint at home


  • Mint has menthol, which has an effective cooling effect on the body.
  • Mint has anti-bacterial properties, which can fight oral bacteria.
  • Mint is great for digestive issues, as well.

4. Masala Chai

Kadak masala chai


Masala Chai (or Kadak Masala Chai) is the most popular tea type in the world, especially in India, as the morning of every Indian starts with it.

There are 2-3 popular ways to make this aromatic drink.

The ratio of water and milk goes 50-50 in this. 

Either boil the water first, then add tea leaves and chai masala - made by grinding cloves (laung), green cardamom pods (elaichi), tulsi leaves, cinnamon sticks (dalchini), bay leaves (tej patta) and crushed ginger (adrak), and then add milk. 

Use sweeteners like honey or jaggery powder, or

Add 50-50 milk and water and bring to a boil. Then add tea leaves, spices and sweetener at last. Strain and enjoy!


Benefits of Masala Chai:
  • Cloves and ginger have antioxidants that can calm the body's pain.
Cloves and ginger


  • The spices have antibacterial properties, which can fight germ cells.
Chai spices


  • Black tea leaves and cardamom is a powerful combo, both full of antioxidants.
Powerful duo


  • Black tea leaves have caffeine, which can energize you and make you feel active.



Popular types of Coffee:

Types of coffee with its contents



1. Espresso -
A concentrated form of coffee served in small, strong shots without milk.

2. Americano -
Made by adding hot water to espresso coffee.

3. Flat White -
Made by adding hot milk (without lather or froth) to espresso coffee.

4. Macchiato -
Strong coffee with a little warm whipped milk (air in it) in espresso coffee.

5. Latte -
Made by mixing espresso and whipped milk topped with milk foam.

6. Mocha -
A different type of coffee that has hot chocolate in it, topped with whipped cream.

7. Cappuccino -
Made by mixing espresso and whipped milk topped with milk foam.

8. Frappe -
A partly frozen coffee topped with whipped cream.

You can enjoy these coffees hot as well as cold!




Benefits of Coffee:
  • Just like tea, coffee also contains caffeine, a stimulant which improves focus and increases concentration. It stimulates our brain to be active.
  • Coffee is rich in antioxidants.
  • Moderate coffee consumption can decrease the chances of Type 2 diabetes.
  • Coffee can lower the risk of liver diseases like fatty liver, liver cancer, cirrhosis etc.
  • Caffeine improves physical performance, as well.

But remember, 

"As excess of anything is bad, 
so is the overconsumption of tea and coffee.
     Fitness lies in moderation."



Tea vs. Coffee -

Which is better?



If we talk about the chemicals present, coffee has more 'caffeine'; whereas tea has more 'tannin'.

While caffeine takes away calcium from the body, increasing the BP and heart rate, 
tannin prevents iron absorption in the body, increasing the risk of anaemia. 
So, it is not good to be addicted to these beverages. 




Around 3-4 cups consumed in a day does not invite any side - effects to our bodies, as proven by the 'Harvard Medical School'.


SUMMARY 

Tea and coffee shouldn't be consumed early morning. They can be consumed in breakfast, lunch or early evening. 
Fully omitting tea and coffee is not easy, as it has become an essential part of our daily routine. But, it can be replaced with healthier alternatives like decaf coffee (with 97% less caffeine), herbal tea, coconut water, sattu drink, lemon water, etc.


Anyways, my favourite beverages are -
Coconut water, Chamomile tea and Americano coffee.

Comment below to tell about yours! 😃

Mail:  geetanjalisaraf5@gmail.com


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