Green tea is often considered safer and gentler than coffee due to its lower caffeine content and beneficial compounds like catechins, which offer antioxidants, but the "safer" choice depends on individual sensitivity; coffee has strong links to liver health and heart benefits, while green tea's lower caffeine prevents jitters, making it better for anxiety or sleep issues, but both are healthy in moderation, with added sugar/cream being the biggest risk factor for either.
Green tea also surpasses the antioxidant content of coffee, which is usually roasted. Some studies show that green tea has a positive effect on the heart. Evidence suggests that regular consumption could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as the antioxidants present can reduce inflammation.
Medical experts advise using unsweetened cocoa powder to boost heart health via powerful flavour flavanols. This addition increases nitric oxide production, which relaxes blood vessels and improves overall blood circulation.
☑ These results suggest that green tea and its catechin supplement could reduce oral bioavailability of lisinopril, resulting in therapeutic inefficiency. Consumption of green tea products should be avoided during treatment with lisinopril.
Green tea: Green teas (including the popular matcha tea) are considered safe to drink during pregnancy. Just watch the caffeine and limit yourself to fewer than three cups a day. Green tea is high in catechins, substances which can prevent your cells from fully absorbing folic acid.
Pregnant women should avoid teas containing chamomile, licorice, peppermint, or raspberry leaf. Few controlled trials have addressed the safety of herbal preparations in pregnant women. Some herbal products are considered unsafe in pregnancy. Leftover foods should be thoroughly reheated before they are eaten.
Tea may be caffeinated, but it generally contains less caffeine and is a good option to replace coffee. It is recommended that patients and pregnant women should note that the benefits of tea can vary depending on the type of tea, although darker and green teas are the more beneficial varieties.
Don't drink green tea if you have a bleeding disorder. Heart conditions: When taken in large amounts, the caffeine in green tea might cause irregular heartbeat. Diabetes: The caffeine in green tea might affect blood sugar control. If you drink green tea and have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar carefully.
Examples include: Lisinopril: Patients should be advised to limit their consumption of green tea and green tea extracts during treatment with lisinopril. These products have been reported to lower blood levels of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Qbrelis, Zestril) which could lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Antioxidants help decrease inflammation in the body, which can be helpful for your kidneys. Green tea has also been shown to decrease the risk of kidney stones. In particular, green tea contains the catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which may be helpful for people with kidney disease.
Sugar/Sugary Syrups
Adding sugar and sugary syrups to your coffee can lead to unhealthy spikes in blood sugar and excessive calorie intake, depending on how much you use. “One teaspoon of sugar in your cup of coffee will not have a giant impact on your overall health,” says Hollendonner.
Yes, a weak heart can often become stronger or significantly improve with consistent effort, involving a doctor-guided plan with regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet (low sodium), medications, stress management, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing other conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes to improve heart function and quality of life.
Adding cinnamon is a great way to get an extra boost of healthiness in your coffee. The process is simple: add a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon to the grounds in your coffee maker and brew it normally. You can do the same with pour-over coffee.
If you are trying to cut back on your coffee intake, green tea might be the best way to do it. Reduced stress and improved sleep quality caused by green tea are associated with a reduced caffeine content. Before being brewed, you may be surprised to learn that tea actually has a higher caffeine content than coffee.
The "2-hour coffee rule" suggests waiting 90 minutes to 2 hours after waking up to drink your first cup of coffee to optimize caffeine's effects, avoid interfering with your natural cortisol spike (which peaks shortly after waking), and potentially prevent afternoon energy crashes. This timing allows caffeine to work better when cortisol levels naturally drop and adenosine (the chemical that makes you sleepy) builds up, leading to better focus and alertness later in the day, though individual experiences vary.
Takeaways. Green tea is low in calories and rich in plant compounds called antioxidants. Drinking a few cups a day may support heart, brain, and blood sugar health. It has less caffeine than coffee or black tea.
Grapefruit: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with some prescription drugs, and even a few non-prescription drugs. Don't drink grapefruit juice with certain blood pressure-lowering medications because it can cause higher levels of those medicines in your body, making side effects more likely.
7 Medications That May Interact With Green Tea
However, acute blood pressure spikes are more pronounced with coffee, Routhenstein said, so those with high blood pressure or arrhythmias may benefit from green tea or decaffeinated options.
Green tea supplements and high consumption of green tea can lead to liver damage and disease (12). Experts believe this is due to a build-up of caffeine that can stress the liver. To avoid this side effect, avoid consuming more than 4 to 5 cups of green tea every day.
Numerous scientific studies in the fields of prostate, pancreatic, breast, and stomach cancers [14,15,16] have confirmed that the effects of green tea polyphenols on inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and reducing the risk of cancer can reduce the chances of developing cancer [14].
"Several recent analyses have found that higher consumption of tea, especially black tea and green tea, are associated with reduced risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and early death," Dr. Hu says.
No safety concerns have been reported for green tea consumed as a beverage by adults. However, green tea does contain caffeine. Side effects of green tea extract supplements include nausea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, and increased blood pressure.
While health concerns have been raised for tea consumption during pregnancy [9], up to 21.5 % pregnant women in China are tea consumers [2]. Preterm birth (<37 completed weeks of gestation) is the leading cause of child death [10] and is associated with poor developmental trajectories in infancy [11].
How Much Caffeine Is in a Cup of Green Tea? In contrast, an 8-ounce cup of green tea usually provides 20 to 45 mg of caffeine. This lower caffeine content makes green tea an excellent option for those who are more sensitive to caffeine or who want a gentler lift later in the day.