Cuppa anyone?
There’s always been a debate around which is the best… Coffee or tea?
Well, it all depends on a person’s taste. Also, scientists have found the answer may in fact come down to your genes. The reasoning is all about our genetic predisposition to bitterness – in short, whether we find some substances more bitter than others will put us in one particular hot drink camp.
Everyone has a different opinion and taste, yet we need to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these beverages… The good thing is both come with social benefits. That is, you can find both tea or coffee at functions, parties, get-togethers, it’s always good to sit around with friends gossiping while sipping coffee or tea!
Tea has always been a drink for relaxation while coffee is simply seen as a ‘pick me up’ to break the sleepiness or boredom and boost up your immune system (and motivation!) especially at work…
Both drinks contain bitter caffeine components that contribute to their pleasant taste (and energy-inducing effects) but coffee has an additional molecule called quinine – also found in tonic water.
Previous studies have found that people taste bitter flavours like caffeine, quinine and an artificial substance called propylthiouracil differently according to the types of taste receptor genes they have.
So, are you ready to know more about these drinks? Then grab your coffee or tea and read the article below…
Coffee
Coffee, it’s like drinking liquid bliss… And for some has always been a wake-up call. The sip of it goes deep in your soul; like a warm hug in a mug! Coffee lovers know what that first sip means. As we all know, coffee contains caffeine, this is the most consumed substance in the world. And it’s simply a fact that coffee is one of the most important drinks of many people, and many start their day with a cup of hot coffee. There are lots of ways of making good coffee, some love it black and some with sugar or milk. You can find latte coffee, espresso, cappuccino, Americano, and many more… Yet, coffee comes with many side effects and benefits. They are as follows:
Benefits of Coffee:
- Helps with staying alert or focused
- Reduces the risk of getting cancer
- Contains antioxidants that protect your body
- Helps with weight loss
- Fat burner
- It increases your physical performance.
- Reduces the risk of getting a stroke.
Side Effects of Coffee:
- It can be toxic
- Causes insomnia
- Not suitable for kids as it increases bedwetting
Tea
Brits have always been proud of their ability to drink gallons of tea. Tea is considered one of the top favourite beverages, and it comes in many varieties. Such as green tea, vanilla tea, and black tea. There are 20,000 different kinds! No wonder it’s so common…. Be it hot or cold tea aka iced tea, this beverage has existed for decades! In most countries, tea is considered to have medicinal properties and some people use it in the healing process. Let’s point out the benefits and effects of tea…
Benefits of Tea:
- Protects the bones
- Soothes your digestive system
- Reduces the risks of cancer
- Contains less caffeine than coffee.
- Increases your immune system
- It is calorie-free
- Helps in losing weight
- Reduces the risk of getting diabetes
- Improves cholesterol
Side Effects of Tea:
- Decreases your iron absorption.
- Regular tea is known to create stress and restlessness
- Contains Caffeine
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
What’s your favourite?
So, what’s your favourite? It’s simply your choice! Both tea and coffee come with benefits and side effects, so it’s wise to drink tea and coffee in moderation. The NHS recommends an upper limit of 400mg (about four cups) of caffeine per day for adults (300mg, or three cups, for pregnant women).
This doesn’t mean that you have to give up your favourite beverage – you just keep an eye on the caffeine levels!
