The Health Benefits of Coffee and Tea

Apart from plain water, coffee and tea are the world's most favourite beverages. We have always been told that water is the most beneficial drink for our health, however, tea and coffee also have many benefits that you may not know of. We spoke to the experts at Chiva Som to find what are the health benefits of coffee and tea.

Type 2 Diabetes

Coffee has lots of a certain antioxidant that helps keep your blood sugar lower and more stable. And antioxidants from tea may help your body process sugar in your blood. 

Parkinson's Disease

Coffee and tea can benefit this serious disease. Studies have found that caffeine can ease the early symptoms of Parkinson's. Other studies have found that drinking tea and coffee may help in protecting your brain as a form of preventative care. 

Heart Disease

Studies have shown drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day can decrease the buildup of calcium in the vessels that bring blood to your heart muscles. This can also decrease your chances of having heart disease. 

Liver Disease

Drinking 3 or more cups of coffee a day can help in lowering your odds of having chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. As coffee has more than 100 different chemical compounds in it, scientists are constantly finding out how these compounds may be benefitting your liver.

Stroke

As coffee has anti-inflammatory properties and can lower blood sugar levels, having one cup a day can lower your chances of having a stroke. In addition, black tea has also been linked to having similar benefits.  

Cancer

The antioxidants in tea, especially polyphenols are believed to help prevent and protect your body from cancers of the breast, prostate, ovaries and stomach.

Alzheimer's Disease

The antioxidants in coffee and green tea have been found to help protect the brains neurons. These antioxidants help prevent the clusters of proteins believed to cause the disease.

Weight Loss

If you drink low-calorie beverages such as coffee and tea instead of sugary drinks, you may find it easier to lose weight. However, you must ensure that your tea or coffee is not filled with sugar and cream. 

Despite all of these health benefits, if used in excess, too much caffeine can make you anxious or irritable and make it hard to sleep. It can also make your body less able to hold onto calcium, which can make your bones weaker and more prone to fractures or breakages. Essentially, like everything in life, it should be taken in moderation. This is the same with coffee, moderate consumption is the best way to enjoy coffee or tea with the benefits and not the side effects.