Both are also associated with a decreased risk of certain diseases. However, people with anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorders should consider choosing green tea over coffee due to its lower caffeine content and because it contains L-theanine — an amino acid that promotes a state of calm alertness ( 53 , 54).
Less Anxiety and Better Sleep
Coffee has a greater amount of caffeine than tea does. The drink contains between 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine per cup, whereas tea contains between 6 to 60 milligrams, depending on the type. Therefore, those who switch may see improved sleep and less anxiety.
Researchers have found, for instance, that drinking tea lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And evidence of long-term health benefits is emerging, too: drinking at least 100 millilitres (about half a cup) of green tea a day seems to lower the risk of developing depression and dementia.
What tea is good for anxiety and depression? Mint, ginger, lemon balm, chamomile and other teas on this list have shown to help aid anxiety. However, lemon balm, specifically, has been used to ease depression symptoms and studies have shown promising results.
Teas for anxiety include mint teas, chamomile teas, lavender teas, rose teas, and matcha.
teapigs Chamomile Flowers Tea
Chamomile tea is a go-to tea for anxiety, especially at night. Because it's naturally caffeine-free, the teapigs Chamomile Flowers Tea is a great option to enjoy right before bedtime to ward off worried anxious thoughts from keeping you awake.
Increased anxiety, stress, and restlessness
Tea leaves naturally contain caffeine. Overconsuming caffeine from tea, or any other source, may contribute to feelings of anxiety, stress, and restlessness ( 3 ).
While the side effects of caffeine and anxiety can be alike, you can't get anxiety from caffeine directly. But, drinking coffee can make anxiety symptoms worse. Research shows that in people with panic disorder, caffeine consumption raises the risk of having a panic attack and increases levels of anxiety.
Caffeine can increase stress hormones.
Similar to stress, caffeine increases your heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormone levels. If you drink coffee in excess, caffeine consumption can more than double your blood levels of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine.
A big event or a buildup of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety — for example, a death in the family, work stress or ongoing worry about finances. Personality. People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are.
Anxiety can be caused by a variety of things: stress, genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic events, or environmental factors. Symptoms can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication. But even with medication, people may still experience some anxiety or even panic attacks.
An anxiety disorder can be caused by multiple factors, such as genetics, environmental stressors and medical conditions. New research also indicates that chronic anxiety symptoms that will not go away can be due to an autoimmune response, triggered by common infections.
Does anxiety get worse with age? Anxiety disorders don't necessarily get worse with age, but the number of people suffering from anxiety changes across the lifespan. Anxiety becomes more common with older age and is most common among middle-aged adults.
In this battle over health benefits, coffee comes out on top. Coffee drinkers can raise a mug to fiber, microbiome health and lowering risk for cancer and diabetes. But tea drinkers, do not despair. Tea is undoubtedly good for your blood pressure, cholesterol, stress levels, mental health and productivity.
The main difference between the caffeine in coffee and in tea is that tea has a lot less of it. A strong cup of coffee can provide 100–300 mg of caffeine, while a cup of tea may provide 20–60 mg. Caffeine blocks adenosine in the brain, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes sleepiness.
Though tea is lower in caffeine, it's rich in L-theanine, a powerful antioxidant that also stimulates your brain ( 49 , 50 ). Unlike caffeine, L-theanine may provide anti-stress effects by increasing your brain's alpha waves, which help you calm down and relax ( 51 ).
Another possible health risk of coffee and tea involves the ingredients that are often added to these drinks. Teas and coffees sweetened with sugar or flavored syrups can increase risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, unhealthy weight gain and heart attack and stroke.
For people who experience anxiety and have a higher caffeine sensitivity, green tea is a much better choice of caffeine. Green Tea contains L-Theanine which helps in increasing the alpha activity in the brain and also helps in increasing the levels of dopamine. This helps in alleviating anxiety.
Indeed, when you dose up on tea made to the equivalent strength as coffee, it actually proves to be more effective at sharpening the mind.
What happens when you switch from coffee to tea? Depending on the type of tea, you may experience minor withdrawal effects if you're consuming less caffeine. However, the L-Theanine component of tea should ensure that you no longer experience the jitters and crash associated with coffee.