Tea or coffee, regardless of which you prefer, can both contribute to a healthier diet. Both contain antioxidants which protect cells against free radical damage caused by free radical chemicals; both also can lower heart disease risks, cancer risks, diabetes risks and boost your immunity while strengthening immunity systems – though which one is healthier depends on the quantity and type of drink consumed.

Tea contains fewer calories and caffeine than coffee, helping keep you hydrated with less impactful stimuli like coffee. Plus, tea’s plant chemicals called flavonoids contain natural antioxidant properties which may lower the risk of stroke while L-theanine can provide stress reduction and increased mental alertness.

Tea is naturally low in fat, sodium and sugar content; however, adding creamers or sweeteners to it can quickly increase its caloric and carb content. Both tea and coffee can help protect heart health by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels and triglycerides – in turn decreasing kidney stones risk as well as liver diseases risk.

Coffee contains chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and diabetes-reducing properties, as well as being linked with reduced risks of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Furthermore, drinking coffee regularly may also improve mental focus while decreasing depression risk.

However, coffee’s caffeine can impair your sleep and leave you jittery and wired. Furthermore, caffeine binds with certain nutrients like iron and calcium and prevents their absorption, leading to severe deficiencies and deficiency conditions. That is why tea or coffee should only be consumed between meals instead of during them.

Coffee and tea both affect digestive tract health negatively, too. Caffeine in coffee can relax the muscle between your esophagus and stomach, leading to acid reflux. Furthermore, drinking too much coffee or tea could trigger PMS symptoms in women as well as contribute to miscarriages among pregnant women.

If you’re curious to know the effects of beverages on your health, speak to a Banner health care provider. They’re there to recommend drinks tailored specifically to you and your family’s needs.