Do you like drinking coffee or green tea? Many adults love these beverages, especially in the morning. Coffee gives them a quick energy boost, while green tea provides a calming effect.
Both drinks have caffeine, a substance that makes you feel more awake. An 8-ounce cup of green or black tea contains 30-50 milligrams of caffeine.
In comparison, the same amount of coffee contains 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Understanding the Previous Studies on Coffee
You might wonder, is it healthy to consume these beverages every day? Past research provides interesting insights.
For instance, studies found that drinking one cup of coffee per day might be beneficial for people who’ve had a heart attack.
It seemed to reduce their risk of dying after the incident. Coffee also seemed to prevent heart attacks or strokes in healthy individuals.
Furthermore, other research suggested that regular coffee consumption might lower the risk of developing chronic illnesses. It might help control appetite, reduce the risk of depression, and boost alertness.
However, like all things, coffee should be consumed in moderation. Drinking too much coffee might raise blood pressure, leading to anxiety, heart palpitations, and difficulty sleeping.
What’s in the Latest Study?
In a recent study, scientists classified blood pressure into five categories. These are based on measurements in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg):
- Optimal and normal: less than 130/85 mm Hg
- High normal: 130-139/85-89 mm Hg
- Grade 1 hypertension: 140-159/90-99 mm Hg
- Grade 2: 160-179/100-109 mm Hg
- Grade 3: higher than 180/110 mm Hg
In this study, people with blood pressure in grades 2 and 3 were considered to have severe hypertension, or extremely high blood pressure.
More than 18,500 men and women, aged between 40 to 79 years, participated in the study. The researchers kept track of them for nearly 19 years.
The Findings of the Study
During the study, there were 842 deaths related to heart disease. The scientists discovered that drinking two or more cups of coffee per day doubled the risk of dying from heart disease for people with severe high blood pressure.
However, drinking only one cup of coffee per day didn’t increase the risk of dying from heart disease, regardless of the person’s blood pressure.
On the other hand, consuming green tea didn’t increase the risk of heart disease death, regardless of blood pressure levels.
This means that for those with severe high blood pressure, it might be better to limit their coffee intake.
Because they’re more sensitive to caffeine’s effects, its harmful effects could outweigh the benefits, possibly increasing the risk of death.
Why is Green Tea Safe?
So, why doesn’t green tea pose the same risk as coffee? It might be due to polyphenols, micronutrients found in plants that have health-boosting properties.
They’re antioxidants, which protect the body from damage, and anti-inflammatory, which helps fight off diseases.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, while coffee has been shown to have some health benefits, it’s essential to drink it in moderation, especially for people with high blood pressure.
Green tea, on the other hand, is a safer option for everyone due to its lower caffeine content and the presence of health-enhancing polyphenols.
This study, led by Hiroyasu Iso, was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The researchers’ work continues to add to our understanding of how what we eat and drink can affect our health.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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