When it comes to health benefits, tea has a good reputation but coffee traditionally gets a bad rap, according to CNN Health. Although Americans drink about three times more coffee than tea, they associate coffee with jitters and insomnia. The good news is that both beverages may improve health conditions and ward off disease.
Coffee
Coffee is good for a lot more than just waking you up in the morning. CNN reports it may lower your risk of health problems from type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease to colon and liver cancer. Men who drink coffee are thought to have less risk for advanced prostate cancer, and moderate coffee drinkers of both sexes have lower risk for dementia as they age.
Coffee is the top source of antioxidants in the United States, CNN adds. Other products such as beans and berries offer more antioxidants per serving, but coffee is number 1 because of the large amount Americans drink.
Black Tea
Black tea offers a bevy of health benefits, too. The National Institutes of Health reports that it can improve airflow to the lungs of people suffering from asthma, and it can lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Black tea may improve bone density in older women, and it may reduce stress and increase relaxation. Further studies are needed to determine whether it reduces the risk of cancer and heart attacks.
Green Tea
Green tea is good for you because it's a major source of catechins; they're flavonoid compounds that serve as powerful antioxidants. Harvard Medical School reports drinking green tea may lower your risk for several kinds of cancers, including breast, skin, colon, lung and bladder. The National Institutes of Health notes that green tea also may help lower cholesterol and reduce menopausal symptoms, but further research is necessary.
White Tea
White tea is another beverage with health benefits, according to Kingston University in London. A Kingston study showed high levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants in green tea, as well as extracts that may keep your skin younger looking by protecting its elastin and collagen.
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