What is better to drink tea or coffee. Black coffee vs green tea: find out which is healthier for you

This knightly duel has been going on for more than one century: the struggle of tastes and opinions, preferences and legends. One way or another, everyone participates in it, from a simple layman to pundits. Is victory possible? Is there any point in arguing?

Pros and cons: which is better?

Fans of ancient drinks can talk for a long time about their merits and benefits. Tea, for example, contains many vitamins and other useful substances. It is believed that this can positively affect blood vessels and metabolism, and prevent development. But there is an opinion that tea has a bad effect on work and skin color, it causes.

Coffee, in addition to its unsurpassed invigorating effect, is credited with the ability to reduce the risk of diabetes and protect against. However, it acts on the heart and liver, removes some minerals that are important for us from the body.

There are pluses and minuses for both competitors. The choice is rather influenced by the tastes and habits in the family, the traditions of the region of residence, the characteristics of the organism and the state of health. Unfortunately, habits are so strong that they even go to the detriment of health.

What can be considered when choosing between a cup of aromatic coffee and a glass of strong tea?

Give preference to a natural drink! Talking about the benefits does not make sense when it comes to synthetic substitutes. Instant coffee and tea bags, especially flavored ones, are not a complete replacement and do not have a positive effect on the body.

Remember that the wonderful properties attributed to tea are mainly related to green tea. To herbal and fruit teas brewed from herbs and pieces of fruit, without the use of synthetic additives. The benefits of black tea are few. And keep in mind that all teas are drunk only freshly brewed. Never use yesterday's brew.

Coffee should be drunk freshly ground. Don't have a coffee grinder or don't want to mess around with it every morning? Buy small packages and store in glass jars with a tightly ground lid. When a hospitable hostess extracts powder from a huge, poorly closed package, it is better to politely refuse such coffee.

Even 1 tablespoon of white sugar will kill all the benefits of the drink. If you can't drink unsweetened, use honey or cane sugar.

What do nutritionists say?

It is important to know that nothing can replace water. Without it, a person cannot be healthy. The norm for an adult is about 2 liters of clean unboiled water per day. We drink tea, coffee, juice or eat soup - this does not affect the required amount of water.

Coffee and tea dehydrate the body. That is why, after coffee, thirst is often tormented. Nutritionists advise increasing the daily water intake in accordance with the amount of drink you drink. Drinking 1 cup of black tea, you must add the same cup of water. For 1 cup of green tea - 2 water, and for a cup of coffee - 3.

Coffee lovers would do well not to forget that if you abuse this undeniably wonderful drink, you can create serious problems for yourself. Coffee removes calcium from the body, which can lead to problems with teeth, hair, and even reduced bone density.

May health win!

Do not deny yourself your favorite drink simply because someone considers it harmful. By following simple rules, you can get both benefit and pleasure.

1. Drink tea and coffee only high-quality, natural, properly prepared.
2. Do not use them too hot, so as not to burn the mucous membrane.
3. Do not drink medicine with tea.
4. Do not drink coffee in the morning on an empty stomach. If you are not in the habit of having a hearty breakfast, a great option is to eat some fruit, then drink coffee.
5. If possible, do not drink immediately after a meal so that the digestion process is not disturbed. Wait 30 minutes.

In a world that has won a huge number of supporters. It is believed that the inhabitants of the planet Earth can generally be attributed to representatives of two camps, highlighting among them connoisseurs of coffee and those who prefer tea. "Tea or coffee - which is healthier?" is an important question that needs to be sorted out.

Preamble

When choosing between tea and coffee, most people are guided in their preferences by considerations of taste, somehow less is thought about the impact of these drinks on health. But scientists have long dealt with this issue and in their studies have come to conclusions that all lovers of coffee and tea should get acquainted with.

Tea or coffee - which is healthier?

However, scientists consider both of these drinks beneficial to human health, since it has been proven that they contain active ingredients in their composition. But a clear conclusion that it is more useful to drink, tea or coffee, none of the scientists can do so far.

Tea: about the diversity of species

There are several main types of tea, differing both in their taste and aroma, and in the peculiarity of the effect on the human body:

• Green. It has a low degree of oxidation. It has a pronounced herbal aroma. The taste is slightly tart or sweet. Valued as a natural antioxidant. It contains: carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin C, minerals (zinc, manganese, selenium).
• Black. Strongly brewed drink normalizes digestion, is effectively used to treat typhoid fever, dysentery, removes harmful substances from the body.
• White. It is made from unblown buds and young tea leaves. Not exposed heat treatment. Differs in light or yellowish color of dry mix. Known as a tea of ​​health and youth. Strengthens the immune system, heals wounds, increases blood clotting, prevents the appearance of various diseases.

• Yellow. Elite tea, made from young buds. There is a slight bitterness in the taste. Increases immunity, removes headache.

• Oolong. Close to black tea. It has a bright rich aroma with hints of chocolate, honey, flowers, fruits, spices. Contains essential oils, vitamins and beneficial minerals. It has a positive effect on human health.

• Puer. It lowers blood sugar, improves the functioning of the digestive tract, removes toxins, rejuvenates and tones the skin.

What are the types of coffee?

Coffee also has a huge variety of types. The most common include:

• "Arabica", which grows above sea level at an altitude of 900 to 2000 m. The grains of this variety are oblong in shape, with a smooth surface, slightly curved. During the light roasting of the beans, the coffee berry particles do not burn out completely.
• Robusta, which contains more caffeine, is considered less refined in terms of aroma.

According to various estimates, these two types account for up to 98% of all coffee produced in the world: Arabica makes up 70% of the volume, Robusta - 28%. The remaining varieties that do not have industrial value account for 2% of the world volume.

What is known to science about the effect of tea and coffee on the human body?

Those who are thinking about the choice: tea or coffee - which is more useful, and what to give preference to, will be curious to know that both of these drinks have both beneficial and harmful properties for human health.

The most common types of tea are black and green. The properties of these two popular tea varieties are most often compared with the properties of coffee.

Useful properties of tea and coffee

• Both coffee and tea contain antioxidants.
• In black tea, the amount of caffeine is 2 times higher than in coffee: tea from 2.7 to 4.1%, coffee from 1.13 to 2.3%.
• Both coffee and tea (black and green) contain polyphenols that protect against cancer, heart disease, and more.

More about what useful properties have tea and coffee, see later in the article.

What is more useful?

Scientists have always been interested in the question of which of the drinks has a more beneficial effect on the human body. Tea or coffee: which is healthier? It will be easier to solve this question for yourself by reading the following information.

Tea (especially green), thanks to the tannins contained in it, contributes to the active removal of heavy metals from the body, strengthening blood vessels. In addition, the substances contained in it help in the prevention of cancer, diabetes, and various gastric diseases.

Coffee is indispensable in the prevention of diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, migraine, asthma, heart attack. Thus, knowing about the state of his health, and based on his own tastes, everyone can decide which of the drinks is preferable for him.

The benefits of black tea

For a long time, there was an opinion among consumers that black tea is much healthier than coffee. The drink has many healing properties, although they are less pronounced than in green. It is known that tea (black), in addition to helping to eliminate toxins from the body, is able to excite and calm at the same time. nervous system thanks to the two substances contained in its composition that complement each other: caffeine (theine) and tannin (tannin).

Tannin tends to have a caffeine-retaining effect, so it stays in the body longer. In addition, black tea is able to slow down the leaching of calcium from the bones, and therefore is considered a good prevention of osteoporosis (decrease in bone density), especially when consumed with milk. Doctors advise drinking black tea to hypertensive patients. After drinking this drink, the normal level of pressure is quickly restored, which does not rise too high in the future.

So, black tea has a beneficial effect on the heart: it reduces blood pressure and improves the condition of the arteries. In comparison, decaffeinated coffee contains higher levels of cholesterol.

Dentists warn: do not use lemon and sugar when drinking tea. Tea bags are convenient to use, but contain few useful properties.

Which tea to choose: black or green?

Interesting is the fact that although green and black teas come from the same plant, they differ in a special process of processing the leaves. When processing in black tea, more nutrients are lost than in green tea. Therefore, green tea is more beneficial for humans than black tea. It is known that in Japan, green (powder) is considered the most useful.

About the benefits of green tea

It is recognized by many experts that green tea is the most beneficial for health, which is created from selected leaves plucked from the very top of the bush.

Green tea is an excellent tonic and invigorating agent that has a beneficial effect on the body when various diseases, including colds, as well as activating oxygen metabolism. The catechins contained in green tea enhance the reduction of cholesterol and blood sugar levels, strengthen blood vessels, help relieve fatigue and reduce susceptibility to stress.

Vitamins contained in green tea enhance its healing and antioxidant properties. The drink protects cells, prevents destruction and increases their lifespan. In addition, in the heat of this drink, you can quickly and easily quench your thirst. Doctors recommend the use of green tea during rehabilitation periods after serious illnesses.

So, green tea has a beneficial effect on the condition:

• teeth: the antioxidant contained in it prevents the occurrence of caries;
• genitourinary system: in lovers of green tea, the formation of kidney stones is prevented;
• bones: those who are interested in what is more useful, coffee or green tea, should find out that green tea strengthens human bones, and coffee, according to experts, can cause osteoporosis;
• brain: green tea successfully prevents Alzheimer's disease;
• weight: green tea is able to increase and improve the body's metabolism, while caffeine suppresses and reduces appetite.

What is the benefit of coffee?

Coffee, if consumed in small and reasonable doses, also has a positive effect on the human body. It is important to remember that coffee must be natural. Coffee lovers should not forget that there is no natural caffeine in the instant drink, it is replaced by a chemical analogue of the substance. While it is contained in natural coffee beans. This drink, according to experts, is useful for people suffering from migraines, headaches, as well as vasospasm.

The caffeine found in the drink gives the body vitality and the necessary energy. Those who like to drink a cup of coffee in the morning should remember the benefits that this drink brings to their health:

• Coffee helps fight skin problems and signs of aging.
• Promotes weight loss.
• It has a beneficial effect on memory and increases concentration.
• Prevents the development of asthma and allergies.
• Strengthens hair.
• Fights the risk of developing cancer. It is known that coffee lovers are much less likely to suffer from liver and colon cancer. While the effect of anti-cancer tea by scientists has not yet been sufficiently studied.
• Helps to eliminate the manifestations of cellulite.
• In addition, coffee has a beneficial effect on the brain: it successfully prevents Parkinson's disease.
• The risk of diabetes is significantly reduced in those who drink up to 4 cups of coffee per day. No such qualities were found in tea.
• Drinking coffee successfully prevents the formation of gallstones.

Contraindications

With gastritis, peptic ulcer and some other inflammatory diseases of the stomach or intestines, drinking coffee is not recommended. With hypertension, it is also preferable to minimize its use, since coffee increases the load on the heart.

About the dangers of tea and coffee

With a competent approach to the use of tea and coffee, their beneficial qualities will be fully manifested, and the body will be guaranteed to be enriched. essential vitamins and micronutrients. But we must not forget that along with the benefits, these drinks can also negative impact for health:

• Tea and coffee, as well as red wine, compotes and a number of other drinks, give a yellowish tint to the enamel of the teeth.
• The high content of caffeine in coffee leads to the fact that connoisseurs of this drink have sleep disturbances. Therefore, those who do not want to develop insomnia should not drink coffee in the afternoon.
• Tea and coffee flush out magnesium and potassium from the body, making absorption difficult. folic acid and iron, vasoconstriction. This is especially dangerous in atherosclerosis and hypertension.
• In addition, it has been proven that drinking large amounts of green tea is a burden on the liver.
• Those who systematically drink coffee can develop dependence on this drink. In addition, mental health can be harmed, the pulse quickens, calcium, sodium, vitamins B6 and B1 are washed out of the body.

What is better to drink in the morning?

Drinks containing caffeine are known to be good for waking up in the morning. Many people ask the question: what is more useful in the morning - tea or coffee? Experts believe that in terms of caffeine content, this is undoubtedly coffee. After all, caffeine in it: 380-650 mg / l, while in tea: 180-420 mg / l. As for tea, it has been proven that it can improve concentration to a greater extent than coffee.

Today, tea and coffee are the most popular drinks in the world. In honor of them, a variety of festivals are held, history museums are opened, and scientists do not stop arguing about which drink is better. Many centuries have passed since the discovery of tea leaves and coffee beans, and the discovery of new beneficial qualities continues.

Fans of the tea drink assign it miraculous abilities to heal various diseases, including cancer and heart disease, and coffee is mercilessly criticized. But which of them is right and what to choose green tea or coffee?

The benefits and harms of tea

It is known that tea, in particular green tea, contains various useful components that have an immunostimulating effect, help strengthen blood vessels, and accelerate metabolism. At the same time, green tea with a large leaf is much healthier than black tea, especially in bags. The tea leaf contains kahetins, which can protect the human body from diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. For example, people involved in marathon races use green tea to improve endurance during competitions.

People with heart problems are advised to replace black tea with herbal or fruit tea, preference should be given to tea with chamomile or mint. Instead of sugar, honey should be used - it is much healthier. With a little experimentation, you can find the perfect combination of aroma and taste.

More and more often you can hear that a tea drink is extremely harmful to the heart, that it disrupts the normal functioning of the digestive system, can cause constipation, nervous breakdowns, weakness, and insomnia. It negatively affects healthy skin color, and in general it is practically a drug. All this is not confirmed by science, and therefore remains in the category of assumptions.

About the benefits of coffee

Becoming more and more popular lately green coffee, the benefits and harms of which have so far been little studied. But it is simply impossible to deny the obvious facts. Like tea, the product contains a certain amount of caffeine, which helps to wake up after sleep. A cup of coffee raises the tone, gives energy for the whole day, helps to increase mental abilities. Coffee gently relieves headaches. But an overdose can bring the opposite effect - lethargy, drowsiness.

Green coffee perfectly burns fats, and therefore is effective tool for weight loss. It will help to defeat the feeling of hunger and control the process of glucose absorption. There is only one rule, the grains must be of excellent quality, and the drink must be freshly prepared.

And yet coffee has many contraindications. For example, it is highly not recommended for pregnant women. Abuse of this drink can lead to poor health, yellowing of the teeth, pathology of the heart, kidneys, liver.

What to choose - coffee or tea

So are green coffee and tea harmful? Only moderate consumption of these stimulant drinks can solve this issue. If the products are of high quality, properly brewed, and consumed in an amount of no more than 3 cups a day, then there will definitely be no harm from them.

It should be remembered that too hot drinks should not be drunk. Contrary to popular belief, they do not warm, but can only burn the mucous membrane of the larynx and stomach. Tea should not be infused for a long time, you should not use a drink brewed the day before for drinking.

You can not drink coffee or tea on an empty stomach, but it is not recommended to do this immediately after eating. Do not drink a cup of drink before bedtime, and this applies to both coffee and tea. You can not use them during an exacerbation of diseases, there are other contraindications.

Even a perfectly healthy person does not want to abuse coffee or tea. But to protect your life from these delicious and fragrant drinks is not worth it. Therefore, in everything you need to know the measure. A cup of coffee will invigorate you in the early morning, and you can drink tea during the day.

And tea is the best possible ways finish it. And here everything is completely logical: coffee, as you know, invigorates and energizes, and tea, on the contrary, calms and relaxes. The health benefits of coffee and tea are also well known, with scientists regularly throwing in the pots related to the effects of beverages on physical and mental well-being. But which is healthier, coffee or tea? We'll figure it out right now.

When it comes to talking about the health benefits of coffee and tea, most researchers look at how they affect health conditions that are the leading causes of death worldwide - cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stomach and intestinal disease. And this, the scientific community agrees, is quite fair, since this approach allows you to determine the overall health benefits of drinks, without being distracted by the specifics.

What is useful tea

In a recent study, Elliott Miller, MD, of the National Institutes of Health, examined signs in 7,000 Americans as well. Miller's team then looked at which drink the study participants preferred. They managed to find out that 75% of respondents started the morning exclusively with coffee, and 40% drank tea more often than coffee, if we evaluate the diet throughout the day. So the researchers found that drinking coffee apparently reduces the likelihood of developing heart and vascular diseases when compared with drinking tea.

Many other studies have shown that tea can also reduce the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma (skin cancer). In addition, experiments show that this drink is quite effective in reducing anxiety levels, stabilizing blood pressure and controlling cholesterol levels.

What is useful coffee

It would be unfair to say that coffee is completely useless in terms of health indicators and inferior to tea in everything. Just because it's not. It is important to keep in mind that for some people, coffee, especially when consumed in excess, is too stimulating, causing unnecessary anxiety. Coffee has also been shown to reduce the risk of conditions such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, dementia, and diabetes.

In the course of research on the topic, scientists were also able to find that regular consumption can increase life expectancy. In particular, analysis of the data suggested that the habit of drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day has many longevity-related health benefits for everyone except children and pregnant women. Lastly, it is important to reduce the amount of caffeine in the diet in order to minimize the risk of miscarriage. And doctors are advising to do so, even as recent evidence refutes the link between caffeine and normal fetal development.

And what is the result?

In fact, unambiguously answering the question of which drink is healthier is not just difficult, but impossible. “I think the only conclusion that can be drawn here is that if you drink coffee and, keep doing it. And if you drink tea or water, and you really like it, then these drinks will be the most suitable, ”says Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health ).

Indeed, doctors and nutritionists, with rare exceptions, agree that it is not so important whether you choose tea or coffee on a regular basis. The main thing is to monitor the moderation of consumption and do not forget to prevent dehydration and related problems.

“Tell me, please, what is healthier - tea or coffee? And how many cups can you drink?

Lyubov Germanovna, Logoisk district.

What distinguishes tea and coffee from other drinks is the high content of antioxidants, natural substances that protect healthy tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals that damage cells and cause various kinds of diseases. Absolutely all teas contain a group of antioxidants - flavonoids. Thanks to them, with regular use, tea lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, prevents the formation of blood clots, and reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Caffeine is the most valuable component contained in both coffee beans and tea leaves. It stimulates the brain and nervous system, increases motor activity, improves mood, enhances metabolism, has analgesic and antiseptic properties. Of course, in coffee it is the most. On average, one cup of tea contains half to a third of the amount of caffeine found in a cup of coffee of the same volume.

But both tea and coffee have harmful properties. Despite the fact that they are extremely low in calories by themselves, the situation is reversed with the addition of sugar, milk, cream or honey. Pregnancy or the presence of diseases such as diabetes, heart and bone diseases, as well as calcium deficiency and sensitivity to caffeine require a mandatory consultation with your doctor. With gastritis, peptic ulcer and some other inflammatory diseases of the stomach or intestines, drinking coffee is not recommended. With hypertension, it is also preferable to minimize it in the diet, since coffee increases the load on the heart. It cannot be ruled out that addiction can develop from coffee, the pulse becomes more frequent, and pressure rises. In large quantities, this drink tends to flush out calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B6 and B1 from the body, hinder the absorption of folic acid and iron, and constrict blood vessels. This is especially dangerous in atherosclerosis and hypertension. Large doses of caffeine can also lead to the depletion of nerve cells, the destruction of the walls of blood vessels.

The most common types of tea are black and green. Most often, it is their properties that are compared with the properties of coffee. Black tea contains more caffeine than other varieties and has better tonic properties. On the other hand, green tea has more antioxidants, since its leaves are less processed. This is generally an excellent tonic and invigorating agent that has a beneficial effect on the body in various diseases, including colds, and also activates oxygen metabolism. Catechins contained in green tea lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, strengthen blood vessels, help relieve fatigue and stress. Doctors recommend drinking green tea during rehabilitation after serious illnesses. But flower and herbal teas are not, in fact, tea and have completely different properties. Here you should carefully study the composition on the package.

So which is better, coffee or tea? Even science cannot give a definite answer. But there is one simple rule: everything should be in moderation. In the morning you can drink a cup of invigorating coffee, during the day you can maintain your working capacity with black tea or treat yourself to delicious green tea. But in the evening it is better to avoid drinking both, since both of these drinks intensely tone the body, which is not necessary at night. Ideally, after seven in the evening you should drink water or warm milk.

Olga PERESADA, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of BelMAPO, Doctor of Medical Sciences.