Tea Vs Coffee: Which Is Most Beneficial?
Sophie Whitbread Whether you're team tea or team coffee, you're likely getting some health benefits from your cuppa. Coffee's caffeine kick, for instance, can help with energy, while tea may support smoother sleep. But does one hot drink outshine the other? Here's the science. Caffeine, alertness and sleep Many of us make coffee the minute we wake up, and for good reason. A typical cup of coffee, which contains 40–300mg of caffeine, has been found to improve alertness, external, attention and reaction time, external, and may enhance memory and mental sharpness, external. In tea, while evidence is limited, caffeine may be moderated by an amino acid called L-theanine , external – meaning you feel awake and focused without the 'agitation' that can come with coffee. But does this extra alertness come at a price? After 10–12 hours, a quarter of the caffeine could still be there, according to sleep scientist Matt Walker , external. This means you may have trouble fall...