It seems that, when given the choice, more Americans choose coffee instead of tea. While green tea is gaining popularity among health-conscious individuals, it still is not consumed as often as coffee.
Tea, Coffee and Caffeine
Regular tea and coffee both contain caffeine, but coffee typically has 2-3 times more caffeine than tea. Caffeine consumption has some negative physiological effects but probably has little or no impact on the overall risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. The negative effects of caffeine include increased anxiety and panic attacks, more trouble falling asleep, increased indigestion and reflux, and headaches (1). For those concerned about the negative effects of caffeine, herbal tea and decaffeinated tea/coffee are available.
Coffee and Cholesterol
Some, but not all, studies have found that coffee drinkers have increased cholesterol levels and/or an increased risk of coronary heart disease than non-coffee drinkers. These studies also indicate that it is not the caffeine in coffee that is responsible for increasing serum cholesterol levels (2). Coffee has been shown to contain two plant chemicals called diterpene compounds. These compounds are cafestol and kahweol, and have been shown to increase LDL cholesterol (aka “bad cholesterol") levels (3).
Five cups of coffee daily could raise serum cholesterol as much as 5 to 10%. If the coffee is consumed with cream and sugar, this would further raise blood lipids. In theory, the regular consumption of 5 or more cups of unfiltered coffee daily with cream and sugar could easily increase cardiovascular disease risk factors enough to increase the risk of a heart attack by at least 30 to 50%.
Filtered Coffee
So, what about paper-filtered coffee? Passing coffee through a paper filter appears to remove most of these diterpene compounds, and thus filtered coffee appears to have less of a tendency to raise LDL levels than unfiltered coffee (4). However, a recent study concluded, “Consumption of filtered coffee, in doses that are commonly consumed, was associated with increased levels of homocysteine and total cholesterol” (5).
Coffee also appears to contain another yet-to-be-identified substance that raises homocysteine levels. Like increased LDL, higher levels of serum homocysteine have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Lowering homocysteine levels is likely to help reduce heart attacks and strokes (6). In more recent studies, elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with perhaps a two-fold increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (7).
Skip the Coffee
The bulk of the scientific research indicates that the consumption of unfiltered black coffee raises total and LDL cholesterol. It is probably a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke. While filtered coffee does have less of an impact on blood lipids than unfiltered coffee, it may still modestly elevate serum cholesterol levels and also increase homocysteine levels. This revelation means that even filtered coffee may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.
Why Choose Tea Instead?
In contrast to coffee, there is growing scientific evidence that regular consumption of tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and even help reduce the overall risk of developing cancer (8, 9).
Tea -- both black and green -- contains a variety of beneficial plant chemicals called flavonoids. Flavonoids may reduce the oxidation of LDL particles and/or reduce the tendency of blood platelets to stick to artery walls (10). This evidence suggests that black tea may reduce the risk of clogged arteries and/or heart attacks (11).
A Welsh study of 3,454 older subjects found that those who consumed more tea were less likely to have more advanced atherosclerotic lesions in their aortas (12). More recently, a 5.6 year longitudinal analysis of data from the Rotterdam Study found a 70% lower risk of a fatal heart attack in those who consumed at least 2-3 cups of black tea daily, compared to those who were not tea drinkers. The authors concluded, “An increased intake of tea and flavonoids may contribute to the primary prevention of ischemic heart disease” (13).
Though tea is lower in caffeine, it’s rich in L-theanine, a powerful antioxidant that also stimulates your brain (14,15). Unlike caffeine, L-theanine may provide anti-stress effects by increasing your brain’s alpha waves, which help you calm down and relax (16). This helps to balance out the arousing effect of caffeine and gives you a relaxed but alert mental state without feeling drowsy. Studies have found that consuming L-theanine along with caffeine — as in tea — may help you maintain your alertness, focus, attention, and sharpness (17,18).
This combination may be the reason why tea gives you a soothing and more smooth energy boost than coffee.
The Bottom Line
Regular consumption of coffee is likely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and may also increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. By contrast, choosing black or green tea instead of coffee is likely to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and may also reduce the risk of at least some types of cancer. Therefore, tea is the more healthful choice.
This information is for educational purposes only. The statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician if you have any question regarding a medical condition
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