Whether to drink tea or coffee seems to be a universal question. For some people, the answer is obvious. They may not even want to talk to another human until after that first cup of joe. For others, tea is a way of life. Some people enjoy their favorite beverage throughout the day, even having tea or coffee with dessert after dinner. 

If you are wondering which one is right for you, we are going to help you decide by sharing the benefits of both. Then we will talk about the main downside, which has to do with the adverse effects of overindulgence in caffeine. Finally, we will consider some of the factors that you may want to weigh before deciding which beverage should be your go-to.

Are There Health Benefits to Coffee?

Most people drink coffee as a pick-me-up. However, there are also tremendous health benefits to be had from this popular beverage. Here are a few things that you can enjoy with a daily cup of coffee:

• Antioxidants – We hear about antioxidants all the time. The reason is that antioxidants work against free radicals in the body. Those free radicals are what lead to inflammation, certain diseases, and even cancer. In fact, one study showed that a daily cup of coffee decreases the risk of certain types of cancer. 
• Weight control – Coffee increases your metabolism. This can be important if you are trying to lose weight or maintain your weight. It can also help you to stay regular, which can reduce the risk of the bloating that is associated with constipation. 
• Performance – The caffeine in coffee can boost a person’s performance, both mentally and physically. Just remember that the benefits decrease if you take a lot of sweetener with your coffee. 

Before you run and buy a lifetime supply of coffee to start getting all these great benefits, let’s take a minute to see if tea is also good for you.

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Tea: The Many Health Benefits 

As you’re about to see, tea is just as good for your health. Here are some of the fantastic benefits of a daily cup of tea:

• Antioxidants – If our list is starting out familiar, you can expect that to continue. Tea has many of the same benefits of coffee. Black and green tea, in particular, are high in EGCG, a specific type of antioxidant that has outstanding health benefits. Research also indicates that tea may decrease the risk of several types of cancer. 
• Weight control – The antioxidants in tea not only improve your metabolism, but they also trigger a breakdown of fat in the body. Some preliminary research has shown promise that drinking green tea before a workout may help your body to shed more fat. You can also workout harder and longer if your tea has enough caffeine. 
• Brain health – Since tea usually has less caffeine than coffee, you don’t always get the same physical boost, but it certainly is good for your brain. In fact, according to one study, black tea may even help to reduce cortisol in the body (the hormone that is released when dealing with stress). Tea and coffee were both shown to lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, etc.). 

So far, coffee and tea seem to be running neck and neck in this race for your morning mug. So what are the negatives?

The Downside of Caffeinated Beverages 

Really the only downside to either of these beverages is one of the reasons we often drink them – caffeine! While some caffeine can be useful for you, people have different sensitivity levels to it. What are some of the effects of overindulgence in caffeine?

• Insomnia – Too much caffeine, especially in the evening, may keep you up at night. 
• Anxiety – While a little caffeine may improve focus and memory, too much may trigger anxiety. 
• Blood pressure increase
• Digestive problems – A little caffeine may keep your regular; too much may make you have to run for the bathroom. 
• Increased heart rate 
• Frequent urination – Caffeine is a diuretic. Just be sure you replenish your fluids with plenty of water. 
• Fatigue – Caffeine may be a great pick-me-up, but you can also end up with a big letdown afterward. 

I guess there is such a thing as too much of a good thing! 

Coffee Vs. Tea: Which One Is Right for You?

If you are really unsure, check with your doctor to see what the best beverages are for you. For most people, it is going to come down to personal taste and knowing how much caffeine you can handle. Remember that coffee is usually going to have more caffeine than green or black tea, but caffeine levels vary from tea to tea and based on how you steep it (most caffeine makes it into your tea within 15 minutes, so letting it steep in the fridge overnight won’t make much more of a difference in caffeine levels). 

The other thing to consider is the type and amount of sweetener you use. Too much sugar can negate most of the benefits, and artificial sweeteners are even worse for you. 

If you are looking for an excellent additive to your morning coffee or tea that will give you even more benefits without changing the flavor, check out some of our supplements in the shop. As always, Warrior Strong Wellness is committed to health, educational content, and giving back to the community!

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About The Author

Warrior Strong Wellness
Warrior Strong Wellness provides innovative and high quality transformational supplements and raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer by giving a portion of our proceeds to childhood cancer research. In our weekly blogs, we share wisdom about wellness and living a Warrior Strong lifestyle.