How do coffee and tea affect health? Many people reach for two hot drinks in the morning to wake up. We explain how coffee and tea work and whether they are good for the body.
Tea and coffee counteract fatigue
Coffee, as well as green, black, and white tea, have a stimulating effect in the morning.
- This is because the drinks contain caffeine. A coffee bean has up to three percent caffeine, and the same amount of tea has one to six percent.
- The caffeine has a different effect on both: The effect of the caffeine in the tea unfolds more slowly but lasts longer. On the other hand, if you drink coffee in the morning, you will be noticeably more awake after just a few minutes. This is due to the adrenaline that the coffee releases. However, this effect wears off again after a relatively short time.
Tea and coffee promote health
- Drinking tea is good for the body. On the one hand, it contains fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel.
- Black and green tea also protect the vessels and are said to have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Green tea in particular is health-promoting. It contains so-called epigallocatechin, which, among other things, is said to strengthen the immune system. In addition, it has a strong detoxifying effect and may lower the cholesterol level in the blood.
- Even coffee drinkers do not harm their health. On the contrary, because one cup a day (or two to three cups of black tea) prevents Alzheimer’s and dementia. This is because the caffeine in coffee reduces the harmful effects of cholesterol on the body.
- So both beverages are good for your health if you drink them in moderation. As for the maximum daily dose, scientists disagree. You are on the safe side with one or two cups of coffee or tea per day.