Tea Vs Coffee…
The debate continues… If talking about only the taste buds, then its purely a matter of a personal choice. Some like Tea, some Coffee and some both and some neither! But if one has to take into consideration other attributes related to either of them, mainly the health issues related to the debate, then it gets interesting…
Before getting onto the more serious topics, a little about the History
Tea dates back to Emperor Shen Nung, who is said to have discovered it way back in 2700 B.C., while Coffee began much later and is believed to have been first cultivated in Arabia near the Red Sea in 674 A.D.
Coming to the molecular composition Tea and Coffee, we will find that Tea mainly contains Tannin and Catechin other than Vitamins C and E, Natural fluorine and Polysaccharides. Tannin and catechin have been associated with preventing cancer and heart diseases.
and
Coffee contains Caffeine, Carbohydrates, Minerals and some Hydrocarbons. Compared to Tea, none of the ingredients in Coffee have been associated with fighting disease or enhancing health.
Much has been quoted about the content of Caffeine in Tea and Coffee and the harmful effects of the same on our health.
While Tea has around 55 milligrams of caffeine per cup, Coffee has approximately 125-185 milligrams of caffeine per cup.
Though different varieties of tea contain different amounts of caffeine. Of all, Green tea contains the least, about one-third the caffeine as black and Oolong about two-thirds as much
Now the most important aspect of the debate is the way these affect our Health
It is claimed that Green tea may prevent cancer, restrict blood cholesterol, control high blood pressure, lower blood sugar, suppress aging, deter food poisoning prevent and treat skin disease, stop cavities and fight viruses.
Coming to Coffee, no strong results suggest that coffee may enhance health as greatly as Tea does. But it does help in combating drowsiness, temporarily boosting athletic performance, easing congestion due to colds and flu, preventing asthma attacks and enhancing the pain-relieving effects of aspirin.
So, one can safely conclude that Tea, especially Green Tea offers great health advantages in long term over Coffee.
Let me present some exceptional benefits from Green Tea:(https://teatimeworldwide.com/Men/tea_vs_coffee.html)
1) Green tea may prevent cancer
Research suggests that the consumption of green tea per day significantly lowers rate of cancer. Studies have shown that in order for cancer to form two things have to be present; an “initiator” which damages DNA in the cell rendering it subject to cancer and a “ promotor” which activates cancer, leading to a malignancy. The tannin and catechin in green tea reduces both the “initiator” and “promotor”.
2) Green tea may restrict blood cholesterol
High cholesterol is associated with a wide range of diseases in adults. Green tea catechin restricts the excessive buildup of “bad” cholesterol and also limits excessive blood cholesterol.
3) Green tea may control high blood pressure
Mice experiments indicate that daily consumption of green tea catechin has the ability to prevent a rise in blood pressure.
4) Green tea may lower blood sugar
Tea had the capability of lowering blood sugar. Green tea catechin has an ability to lower blood sugar, and polysaccharides in green tea possess the same ability.
5) Green tea may suppress aging
One way of slowing down aging is to prevent the productive of active oxygen and lipid peroxide in the body. Oxygen can oxidize cell membranes, which damage DNA. Catechin in green tea contains antioxidants 20 time stronger than Vitamin E.
6) Green tea refreshes the body
Green tea taken in proper quantity stimulates every organ in the body.
7) Green tea may deter food poisoning
Green tea catechin is a powerful sterilizing agent for many types of bacteria that cause food poisoning.
8) Green tea may prevent and treat skin disease
Soaking in green tea treats athlete’s foot, bed sores & skin disease.
9) Green tea may stop cavities
Carcinogenic bacteria create glucan, which creates plaque. Green tea catechin can destroy carcinogenic bacteria.
10) Green tea may fight viruses
Green tea catechin and theaflavin(an oxidized form of catechin present in black tea) have a strong effect on the influenza virus. The anti-viral capability of green tea catechin may have some beneficial effect on the AIDS virus.
A little search on Internet and one finds a huge resource of information on this Tea vs Coffee. I have tried to present here mainly the health aspects.
There is a lot more which can be added, but I just wanted to make a statement that ofcourse ones’ taste is a private matter, but health grounds should also be considered with due respect.
Personally I like Coffee more, though Tea is fine with me too. And this little bit of content finding on net has made me think! Tea or Coffee. The debate continues.
I wonder why there is no remark as’My cup of coffee’ as’My cup of tea’.;-)
Criticism invited!
PS: I have quoted the research results from these sites.
https://elixir.net/Tea-science.html
https://teatimeworldwide.com/Men/tea_vs_coffee.html