Tea or coffee, what’s better for you?

Dr Abdul Waheed Mastoi
British people love to drink tea. It is said that 16.5 million cups of tea are drunk in Britain every day, followed by coffee, which is 9.5 million cups per day.
Sometimes we prefer one over the other, thinking which is healthier, or which will keep us calmer or more alert, or which may have fewer side effects. But apart from personal likes or dislikes, there are some real reasons to choose between coffee and tea.
The amount of caffeine in tea and coffee varies, and the amount depends on how strong the tea or coffee is in the cup, the type, or how it’s brewed. However, coffee usually contains more caffeine than a cup of tea. Based on common sense assumptions that caffeine makes us more alert, coffee is preferred to keep us awake. But some researches say that the matter is not so simple.
Typically, a cup of low-dose coffee contains enough caffeine (40 to 300 mg) to increase our ability to stay awake, alert, or react quickly, but it also affects our memory, comparisons, and judgment. The capabilities but the effects are not the same.
There is evidence that if a cup of tea is drunk regularly, the amino acid called ‘L-theanine’ in it together with caffeine has a greater effect on our body. Research has shown that ‘L-theanine interacts with caffeine to increase the ability to focus and ignore distractions.’ So if you’re feeling more positive effects of waking up with a cup of tea, you’re right!
But what might be the price you pay for being so alert or awake?
Sleep research scientist Matt Walker says that half of the caffeine you drink will still be in your body after five to six hours, and a quarter of that caffeine will be in your body after ten or twelve hours. This means that you may have trouble falling asleep or staying up late.
Matt Walker says ‘Some people tell me they drink an espresso with dinner and sleep soundly.’
However, Walker adds that caffeine can disrupt your healthy deep sleep and result in ‘waking up too early the next morning and not feeling refreshed.’
According to one study, ‘a cup of tea produces just as much alertness as a cup of coffee, even though it contains less caffeine, but it’s still possible that it’s due to your normal routine. Sleep disturbed.’
In either case, you’d be better advised to limit the amount of caffeinated tea or coffee you drink (especially hot drinks that are high in stimulants) before going to bed at night.
What is better for your health?
According to the NHS, drinking tea and coffee as part of a balanced diet is fine. However, some research suggests that caffeinated beverages lead to increased urination, which can lead to dehydration.
Dietitian Sophie Madeleine says that both tea and coffee contain polyphenols, which are ‘plant compounds’ that are good for our health. While coffee has more polyphenols than tea according to one study, they are not exactly the same type.
Both drinks are linked to several health benefits, including lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes. But according to the NHS, drinking more than four cups a day can raise your blood pressure.
Some people may be sensitive to caffeine, and if you experience side effects such as digestive problems, anxiety or poor sleep from drinking tea or coffee, you should prefer coffee to tea or use decaffeinated (decaffeinated) beverages.