Many adults start their day with a refreshing cup of coffee or green tea. Coffee is celebrated for its energy-boosting caffeine, while green tea is favored for its calming effects.
However, when considering heart health, it’s important to look deeper into how these popular beverages might affect us.
Caffeine Content and Effects
Both coffee and green tea contain caffeine, a stimulant that helps us feel more alert. According to the FDA, an 8-ounce serving of green or black tea contains about 30-50 milligrams of caffeine, whereas an equivalent serving of coffee has about 80 to 100 milligrams.
This difference in caffeine content plays a significant role in how each beverage affects our bodies.
What We Know About Coffee
Historical research has largely been favorable to coffee drinkers. Some studies suggest that a daily cup of coffee may improve survival rates following a heart attack and may decrease the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the first place.
Regular coffee consumption has also been associated with a lower risk of several chronic diseases, a boost in mood, and enhanced mental alertness.
However, excessive coffee drinking can lead to increased blood pressure and anxiety, indicating that moderation is essential.
A recent study involving over 18,500 participants aged 40 to 79 monitored for nearly 19 years brings new insights. It found that drinking two or more cups of coffee per day might increase the risk of dying from heart disease for individuals with very high blood pressure.
However, consuming just one cup daily presented no such risks, regardless of blood pressure levels.
Green Tea’s Favorable Profile
On the other hand, green tea didn’t show any significant impact on heart disease mortality, regardless of the participants’ blood pressure. This could be due to its lower caffeine content and the presence of polyphenols, plant-based nutrients known for their health benefits.
Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that help protect against cell damage and fight inflammation, potentially making green tea a healthier choice overall.
Conclusions
This research suggests that while coffee has its benefits, it’s crucial to consume it in moderation, especially for individuals with high blood pressure.
Green tea, with its lower caffeine content and beneficial polyphenols, appears to be a safer option, posing less risk to heart health.
The findings, led by Hiroyasu Iso, enhance our understanding of how our dietary choices, particularly our preferred morning beverages, can impact our long-term health.
They highlight the importance of considering individual health conditions when choosing between coffee and green tea for heart health benefits.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
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