In short, tea beats any alternative morning drink. Although it may not have the same amounts of caffeine as coffee, nor the same levels of vitamin C as orange juice, tea has a host of other benefits that make the case for tea – hot or cold – being your new choice of drink in the mornings.
Coffee has its advantages, but tea wins in the war of the antioxidants. While green tea is most commonly associated with antioxidants, white tea actually contains more. Coffee also contains antioxidants, but in a much lower concentration than white tea.
Amino Acids in Tea
It's easily one of the biggest reasons why tea is the best morning drink. The caffeine in tea provides energy and alertness, but it's the L-Theanine that brings calmness and focus to the table. In fact, it can even reduce stress levels.
Tea and coffee are acidic in nature and having them on an empty stomach can disrupt the acid-basic balance which can lead to acidity or indigestion. Tea also contains a compound called theophylline which has a dehydrating effect and might cause constipation.
Water. My favorite morning beverage is always water, first and foremost. Your body is deprived of water when you sleep, so it is best to rehydrate with water first thing before anything else. I then follow with coffee or a homemade matcha tea latte for a caffeinated boost.
Apart from being one of the top causes of acidity, morning tea can result in washing out of bacteria right from your mouth to your gut. In the gut, it interferes with good bacteria, and might disrupt your metabolism and upset stomach.
Eases digestion:
Hot tea works wonders in washing down your food thereby keeping your throat clear. It eases off the mucus accumulation and helps in breaking down the food better. As a result, you can expect your meal to digest faster and smoother.
It should be noted that tea is best consumed after breakfast, since tea contains caffeine and drinking tea with an empty stomach will make the stomach absorb more caffeine, potentially resulting in frustrated stomach.
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.
Not partaking in caffeine can be good for your blood pressure. Caffeine has been shown to raise blood pressure levels due to the stimulatory effect it has on the nervous system. High intake of caffeine — 3 to 5 cups per day — has also been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Water is the best choice for quenching your thirst. Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks.
Lemon water is packed with a number of health benefits and is one of the easiest drinks to prepare early morning. Just take a warm glass of water and squeeze half a lemon in it. You can add honey to sweeten it up and add to the benefits.
Green Tea. Green tea is often touted as the healthiest tea. It is chock full of polyphenols and antioxidants that help to boost brain and heart health. Green tea is considered one of the least processed true teas as it does not undergo oxidation.
There is little to no scientific evidence that proves that drinking water after having tea is dangerous for your health. However, it is believed that drinking water immediately after drinking a hot beverage like tea can lead to problems like pyorrhoea disease and digestive issues like acidity or pain.
07/9Pregnancy complications
Yes, excessive consumption of tea can be harmful for the mother as well as the baby. Increased consumption of caffeine can increase the risk of complications. Hence, it is advised to go for caffeine free tea or herbal tea during pregnancy to avoid complications.
For the Chinese, the tea plant has been held in high esteem for its various valuable qualities: its medicinal properties, its ability to restore wakefulness, its close tie to nature, its relative inexpensiveness, and, overall, its distinct and desirable taste.
Green Tea
Green tea is considered to be the healthiest and most popular tea to drink given its mild taste and natural health benefits like improved digestion and sleep.
Though coffee drinking is certainly on the rise, tea is still the most popular hot drink within the UK.
Morning: Black Tea
And the next time you're about to reach for that cup of coffee, give Black Tea a try. Why? It has a dark, rich flavor with energizing caffeine levels. The L-Theanine in tea helps to give you a mindful boost without the crash that will leave you in an afternoon lull.
However, if there is a constant in any European breakfast, it's coffee. Coffee is drunk in almost every country on the continent.