Coffee or tea: Which is better for your health?

[Robin Garr]

The Age-Old Question: What's Better for You, Coffee or Tea?

Some surprising facts about coffee and tea will make you happy:
http://www.alternet.org/food/age-old-qu ... fee-or-tea

I love coffee and I drink a lot of it -- but caffeine isn't completely harmless for me. I've had episodes of cardiac arrhythmia which clearly link to how much coffee I drink. I cut back to half decaf, half caf, until recently and now I am back to 1/4 or 1/3 caf. Fortunately for me there are decaf coffees that taste nearly as good as caf, if you buy the better brands.

I also enjoy tea, and have bought some interesting (and sometimes expensive) teas. But it just isn't on my daily schedule, and when I'm home with Louise sometimes in the afternoon she suggests it. I always say yes, it can be delicious and at "tea time" with a snack it's great. But I don't think I could switch from as much coffee as I drink to the same amount of tea.

We make a pot for breakfast, and then I make another pot at my office just for me. For several years the office pot was fresh roasted, fresh ground full caffeine coffee. That's how I got my heart problem.

I'm also not a good sleeper, and of course coffee too late in the day makes that worse.

From everything I've been able to tell, the health effects of coffee and tea - good or bad - are subtle enough to be pretty much insignificant. Of course, it would take a pretty well-proven negative effect to get me off of coffee. I drink a couple of very large mugs first thing in the morning. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I'd ever get to work. I usually have another mug of coffee around 9:30 AM, although this is mostly for the social aspect of sitting with my co-workers during our coffee break. I rarely drink it after 10 in the morning, although I can have a cup after supper and not have any problem sleeping . Thank goodness it's not really bad for you. If it were, I'd probably have to go with cocaine or crystal meth just to get out of the house in the morning.

Generally speaking, I have one cuppa in the AM and one in the PM. Some work-days I take a second one in the AM; some weekend days I skip the one in the PM.

But I've seen the effect of drinking more than three, however: shaking hands, gritted teeth, easily spooked. Bleh.

I think I'm virtually immune to caffeine although that may be due to my addiction. Six (sometimes more) mugs of java in the morning and a cup of tea in the PM. I've spoken to my Dr. about an IV drip, but so far she is hesitant to go that route.

We use a blend of half and half coffee beans from quality sources. This cuts down on the caffeine and still tastes great!

As I think I've mentioned before, part of my prenup was to limit myself to one cup of coffee in the day, drunk before noon. I have stuck by that arrangement ever since. I also have a cup of green tea in the mid-afternoon. I've never had a problem with either.

Mark Lipton

Tea is something I rarely drink. For some reason, strong black tea gives me a nasty stomachache. I do like green tea and sometimes drink the bottled versions. I also like the Good Earth herbal tea that's full of cinnamon, clove, etc., although I tend not to crave it unless I have a cold.

From everything I've been able to tell, the health effects of coffee and tea - good or bad - are subtle enough to be pretty much insignificant. Of course, it would take a pretty well-proven negative effect to get me off of coffee. I drink a couple of very large mugs first thing in the morning. If it weren't for that, I don't know how I'd ever get to work. I usually have another mug of coffee around 9:30 AM, although this is mostly for the social aspect of sitting with my co-workers during our coffee break. I rarely drink it after 10 in the morning, although I can have a cup after supper and not have any problem sleeping . Thank goodness it's not really bad for you. If it were, I'd probably have to go with cocaine or crystal meth just to get out of the house in the morning.

It depends Mike! In my own case, any food or beverage that contains much potassium is bad for me. I have either stage II or stage III kidney disease. My nephrologist has me on such a curtailed diet that it is almost like giving up food. I am only allowed 70 grams of protein per day. 1800mg of sodium, 2300mg of potassium, and a like or similar amount of phosphate. That leave me with carbs and fats, and I also have some diabetes. so given the right situation, all foods are bad for someone..

[Jenise]

Oh Bob, I remember that you had diabetes but was unaware of the kidney disease. Is this a recent diagnosis? Really sucks that your dietary restrictions are, apparently, pretty much at odds with one another. Lettuce might be your only safe food!

I once gave up coffee for some reason, and though I never felt that caffeine affected me--I didn't drink that much and it was only the hot tasty beverage I thought I was after--once I went caffeine free I was shocked by how buzzed I got from a cup with caffeine. I would occasionally partake on purpose, like before I went in for certain meetings, because the caffeine made me more aggressive. I thought faster, was more decisive.

We ended up going back to caffeine after moving to a new home in a new state because it was nearly impossible to find good (swiss water process) decaf in the new area. But based on that old experience, I can't believe coffee could really be good for you. Just, at best, benign for some.

Nowadays we each drink one cup in the morning, and I rarely finish my cup. In the afternoon, I often have one iced tea or green tea, something I'm convinced IS good for you. Sometimes if I don't I feel sluggish, but not always.

That leave me with carbs and fats....

So... lard on toast?

That leave me with carbs and fats....

So... lard on toast?

Jeff,

That might work so long as it was bacon lard....but then the sodium would get me I suppose;. Truth be told I watch my dietary restrictions as best as I can. and let the devil take the hindmost. And, again if the truth be told, it sees to be working.The one part of it that I really can't control is when I go away from home and have to eat out, I can mostly control the potassium and phosphorus, but the protein and sodium are harder to control. As for coffee and tea, it isn't the caffeine but the potassium....it all adds up. My vegetable restrictions due to potassium are tomatoes, [potatoes, dark greens such as spinach/kale/collards etc. Potatoes I can leach some of the potassium out but it is a pain. to do so I would soak them for 3-6 hours pouring off the water hourly.

Jenise, this kidney problem isn't really a new problem, rather it is one that is being addressed more than ever before. I have three brothers who have been on dialysis and that isn't a road I want to travel. Thanks for your concern.

Bob -

You are, of course, correct. I was speaking generally, for folks who don't need to avoid one or the other for specific, health-oriented reasons.

[Jenise]

Bob, your brothers too? Then it's a family weakness of some unfortunate kind. Glad you're trying to keep it under control--take care!

Bob-
Glad to hear that you are taking care of yourself and managing your health.
Getting old is hard work.

Bob-
Glad to hear that you are taking care of yourself and managing your health.
Getting old is hard work.

Getting old IS hard work Winger, and it "ain't for sissies either.

[Robin Garr]

Bob, what winger said. Couldn't have put it any better, or even as well, so I'll just echo the Indiana guy. Hang in there, and thinking good thoughts for your health.