Both coffee and tea have their benefits, but which is better?
The debate continues…
As a tea connoisseur, my go-to beverage will always be tea. Tea has been a part of our global civilization for much longer, but coffee comes a close second in our choice of morning beverages. Teetotalers, like myself, will never cease to enlighten you about the benefits of a cup of warm tea to start your day, but coffee addicts are not far behind.
At the crux of it all, however, lies the fact that we are all alike because of our need for caffeine every morning. Some like their coffee strong, while some others like it milder with milk and sugar. With the latter, most of the benefits of coffee are lost. It can happen with different varieties of tea as well, as I found out. But, even among the many variants of tea (green, oolong, black, and white), I find white tea most refreshing. Also, it has more health benefits than coffee, including the following:
Cosmetic Benefits: White tea is a transparent liquid, unlike other kinds of tea and coffee. The caffeine content also varies in different strains of tea, with white tea having the least amount. Like smokers, people who drink unregulated cups of black tea or coffee have yellowed teeth. The absence of caffeine and color in white tea minimizes your chances of having discolored and patchy teeth. So, with white tea, you still get your much-needed kick-start every morning without having to compromise on your physical appearance.
Increases Metabolism: Caffeine is known to make your body burn energy faster, which, in turn, enables you to produce more energy. White tea, therefore, compels your body to accelerate the process of metabolism in order to make up for the energy gap. The increased metabolism also positively affects burning of stored fats and thus helps in weight loss. White tea also contains antioxidants called catechins that also contribute towards increasing body metabolism and reducing unwanted weight gain.
Keeps You Alert & Focused: Tea was discovered sometime in 2000 BC in China and was enjoyed by priests, scholars, and students who had to remain focused or meditate. The caffeine present in tea allows you to give your undivided attention to the work at hand without being anxious. It also helps to ease you slowly out of stressful situations, relaxes your mind, and allows you to concentrate on the things that are of utmost importance.
Excellent Detoxifying Agent: Freshly brewed tea acts as a detoxifying agent. It is diuretic in nature and also helps replace the flushed-out fluids from your body. Therefore, white tea helps relieve the pressure on your kidneys and reduces instances of kidney disorders. Also, when you perspire, your body loses a fair amount of water. White tea helps balance this loss as well.
Keeps You Hydrated: Drinking water replenishes the lost water count from your body. So does white tea. However, since water functions similarly, why should you drink white tea? It is true that water also helps keep you hydrated, but it does not replenish the antioxidant deficit. White tea, on the contrary, helps restore the lost nutrients as well as replace the water balance.
Maintains Fluid Balance in Your Body: When your body perspires, the body salts also evaporate. While water can only restore the lost moisture, white tea restores the lost nutrients and salts. Coffee, on the other hand, contains no such nutrients. White tea is a better choice amongst the three. Also, considering caffeine is a more potent diuretic, coffee causes more water loss than white tea. White tea increases the fluid levels in your body since more water is gained than is lost.
Improves Dental Health: Bad breath is a huge embarrassment that no one wishes to experience. When in a situation like this, drink white tea! White tea contains a fair amount of fluoride. Of course, not as much as your toothpaste, but just enough. The fluoride has antibacterial properties that fight bacterial growth in your mouth resulting from food stuck in the cavity. Warm white tea also washes your mouth cavity, and the heat soothes your throat in case of a cold or soreness. Also, drinking white tea regularly helps relieve embarrassing situations related to oral hygiene.
White tea is made from the youngest tea leaves and buds. They are sun-dried and used to make a great cup of piping hot tea that is clear and flavorful. White tea not only has a dense nutritional profile, but also soothes a troubled heart and I say this from experience. I have tried many a different tea, but nothing could fill me such burst of life as did a cup of warm white tea.
So, enjoy your morning cup of exuberance with a few tea leaves steeped perfectly for 10 minutes, and embrace positivity that will last through the day.