Black tea or Coffee: Which do you think is better?

Black tea or Coffee: Which do you think is better?

Black tea or Coffee: Which do you think is better?

Are you a black tea or black coffee person? We have found that people either prefer black tea or black coffee. Very few people prefer both or none of these beverages. When tea or coffee is brewed with milk, it remains black. But which of these is better to consume from a health perspective? Before jumping to any conclusions, let’s have a discussion on the benefits of both of these beverages.

Black tea benefits: Black tea is a delightful beverage that comes from the plant Camellia sinensis. Assam black tea is one of the most commonly consumed beverages among all black teas. It can have a floral, strong, or earthy flavour depending on the variety. There are multiple benefits of drinking black tea regularly.

  • Improves heart health- Regular consumption of black tea can help to keep blood pressure under control. It can decrease the chance of stroke and cardiovascular disease. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can prevent any blockage in the arteries.
  • Builds immunity- Black tea contains various antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. All of the health properties are required for the body's immunity to be built. These health properties increase the white blood cells in the body and keep our body away from any bacterial or viral disease.
  • Weight Loss- EGCG is a catechin that can be found in black tea. This catechin is extremely effective at burning fat in the body. Regular consumption of black tea is considerably effective for losing weight.
  • Digestive health- Black tea is not very acidic in nature. Even, It is very easy to digest. It can be consumed to cope up with digestive problems in the stomach. It has been used for a number of years to cure morning sickness and motion sickness.
  • Eliminate free radicals: The presence of free radicals in the body can lead to a variety of health issues such as premature aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and so on. Smoking or drinking habits, harmful chemicals in cosmetics, and food items can be the sources of these free radicals in the human body. The antioxidant properties in black tea can help keep free radicals away from the body.

The downside of black tea- Some research says that catechins in black tea inhibit iron absorption in the body. Drinking black tea during meals can reduce the iron absorption from food by up to 62%. While consumption of black coffee during meals can reduce the iron absorption up to 35%. 

Black Coffee benefits- Coffee is made from the coffee beans of the coffee plants. The taste of coffee varies depending on the origin of the plant and the manufacturing process. Coffee has numerous health benefits.

  • Energy booster- Coffee is enriched with plenty of caffeine, which is excellent for boosting the body's energy. Coffee is most likely to be preferred by those who are habituated to high-intensity physical workouts.
  • Helps in feeling good- One of the best-known reasons for drinking coffee is to boost your mood. Caffeine is excellent for boosting the mood and fulfilling it with a feel-good factor.
  • Full of nutrients- Black tea is full of antioxidants. Also, it is enriched with potassium and magnesium. All these nutrients have several benefits for boosting the immunity level in the body and keeping it healthy.

The downside of black coffee- There are multiple side effects of drinking black coffee. Let’s discuss those-

  • Acidic in nature- Black coffee is more acidic in nature compared to black tea. Consuming acidic elements excessively can create digestion problems and other stomach disorders in the human body. Keeping a limit on daily coffee consumption can prevent these problems.
  • Increases bad cholesterol- Some study shows that black coffee can increase the level of LDL in the body. LDL is bad cholesterol. It can negatively affect the heart health of the human body. But it is not the caffeine that increases LDL in the body. Coffee beans contain various natural oils which are responsible for the increasing amount of bad cholesterol in the body.
    • Inhibits essential minerals absorption- Consuming an excessive amount of black coffee can hinder the absorption of essential minerals and nutrients in the body. People who are deficient in zinc, iron, or calcium should avoid drinking black coffee.
    • Release excessive stress hormones- Coffee is often drunk to cope up with stress and anxiety. But consuming this soft beverage in excessive amounts can release too many stress hormones in the body. This can cause you to feel nervous and jittery most of the time.

    This discussion clearly shows that both beverages have their own pros and cons. The comparison between these two beverages seems to be inconclusive so far. But there is one more factor that can surely be the decider.

    Caffeine – the deciding factor- An average cup (237 ml) of black coffee contains 95 mg of caffeine, whereas in tea the amount is 47 mg. It is almost half a cup of black coffee. Excessive caffeine intake has several adverse effects on the body. Insomnia is the most common of all. Depression, stress, and anxiety are all direct consequences of insomnia. If someone is caffeine intolerant, then black coffee is not his or her cup of beverage. It can increase the level of caffeine-intolerance and make that person insomniac. So, considering this fact, black tea can be crowned the winner!