by katie veltri kjvelch@aol.com
After much debate with yourself while staring at the menu in Starbucks trying to ignore the barista staring back at you, what conclusive choice do you arrive at? What is the difference between drinking a tea-based drink and coffee flavored concoction? There are so many teas to choose from, including green, black and white, just to name a few, and they all have varying healthful benefits. Green, black and white teas all come from a plant called Camellia sinensis. What makes one type of tea different from another type is the condition of the region that the tea plant is grown in and the season in which the leaves are plucked. Black tea, though, is said to be richer in flavoniods. Flavonoids, also called “dietary phytonutrients,” are potent antioxidants that help fight cancer and slow the aging process. They are also primarily found in wine, dark chocolate, fruit and vegetables. They reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as heighten the immune system, according to the article, Black Tea-Possibly One of the Healthiest Beverages Around.
Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented, a process that can cause tea to lose some of its antioxidants. Green tea also helps speed the metabolism. As affirmed by the website, tea-first.com, green tea is the second most popular drink in the world today. “Clinical trials conducted by the University of Geneva in Switzerland indicate that green tea appears to raise metabolic rates and speed up fat oxidation. Apparently, in addition to caffeine, green tea contains catechin polyphenols that raise thermogenesis (the rate at which calories are being burned) and hence overall energy expenditure.” Like black tea, it heightens the immune system and helps to prevent cancer, but also has the benefits of lowering cholesterol and preventing cavities.
Does coffee have these benefits? In one article researchers from Harvard concluded that coffee significantly reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and researchers from Vanderbilt found that drinking coffee reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease. Also, like tea, coffee is said to prevent cavities. Apparently, trigonelline, which is a compound that is responsible for giving coffee it’s taste and smell, also acts as an “anti-adhesive” in preventing the formation of cavities. But, how good is coffee for the heart? In the same article, researchers stated: “On the other hand, it is clear that coffee is not for everyone. In excessive amounts - meaning more than whatever an individual’s body can tolerate - coffee can cause nervousness, jitters, and rapid heartbeat.” According to the Heart Disease Health Center, a recent study showed that even moderate amounts of coffee could increase your risk of heart disease. What I found most intriguing in a lot of the research is that tea is found to reduce risk of heart disease all across the board, but coffee had some conflicting results.
Both tea and coffee have antioxidants, which can be helpful to the body in several aspects. In moderate consumption, tea and coffee provide benefits that extend beyond of what you would normally think. Tea has a calming effect and still increases your alertness; whereas, coffee can make you edgy. So, the next time you’re in a Starbucks, don’t overlook the array of teas they have to offer. It wouldn’t hurt to try something new and to drink what no bold coffee drinker has ever drunk before, but, of course, coffee has wonderful benefits and endless flavorful blends as well.
Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy, short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a university study. So, drink more water!
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