Have you heard someone suggesting switching from coffee to tea because it is healthier? Both offer numerous health advantages; which beverage is healthier depends on its ingredients and caloric intake; both can be enjoyed responsibly if such items as sugar, milks and creams are avoided.

Coffee and tea both contain antioxidants to combat oxidative stress that damages DNA, leading to cancer, as well as caffeine which has been found to improve alertness and cognitive performance. While the amount of caffeine found in either can vary significantly depending on type and preparation method; coffee typically contains two to three times more caffeine than tea.

At 400 milligrams daily for healthy adults, coffee would take three to five 8-ounce cups to reach this threshold. Tea has significantly less caffeine – up to 48 milligrams maximum per 8-ounce cup; many types such as green and black contain even less than that; peppermint and chamomile herbal teas contain none!

Coffee and tea provide additional health benefits beyond antioxidants and caffeine, including polyphenols found in both drinks which may reduce diabetes risks by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood glucose levels, lowering LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and raising HDL levels respectively. In addition, their flavonoids and polyphenols protect against cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Coffee and tea both boast multiple health-promoting properties that may help reduce inflammation, support gut and heart health, provide various vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc; their benefits depend on the quality of ingredients used – when loaded with unnecessary syrups, sugars or creams they quickly become unhealthy beverages.

Coffee and tea can both be considered healthier options when they include low-cal ingredients like almond milk or nonfat milk substitute. When adding flavor or thickening the drink, natural sweeteners are usually preferable over refined sugar for adding sweetness. Both coffee and tea can become more nutritious by including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats in their recipes. Simply by limiting added sugar, sodium and calories it’s easy to create energy-boosting beverages that promote immune system health. This article was initially published on Jan. 16, 2019. Since then, it has been modified with new information and references, including updates by The Huffington Post LLC’s editorial team and revised accordingly. All rights are reserved by them; errors may still occur; should you find one, please notify us as soon as possible so that it can be addressed accordingly.