Imagine it is a Monday morning after a long, restless night filled with stress because you pulled an all-nighter to finish the work that you procrastinated. The night was long and exhausting, but you have a full day of classes, sports, and clubs ahead of you. It’s only seven in the morning and you’re already tired, so what do you need? Coffee.
Coffee is renowned for its ability to awaken its consumers, as many people begin their day with a cup of coffee to keep them awake and alert for the rest of the day. The caffeine in coffee blocks the receptors that promote sleep, making you feel less tired. Coffee also causes those who drink it to be more focused, which can improve performances on tests, athletic activities, and more.
Coffee comes in hundreds of flavors to choose from, each with a unique and distinct taste. Want something spicy? Peppermint and pumpkin spice would do the job. Sugary? Mocha or french vanilla. Bitter? Black coffee. Sweet or bitter, hot or cold, bad or good: coffee is coffee. No matter the quality, it can make an awful day into a good one.
Tea, on the other hand, is not as appetizing as coffee. Although it also has many flavors, many lack the brassiness of coffee. Unlike coffee, tea alone is dull and bland. Tea also lacks the overall usefulness of coffee; the high level of caffeine in coffee that can make you feel more awake. While many teas have caffeine, their amount is insufficient in comparison to a good cup of coffee.
When taking a sip of coffee, your brain releases dopamine which causes happy and euphoric feelings. The dopamine released by coffee is so effective that it has been linked to preventing depression. A study found that drinking a certain amount of coffee daily caused an 8% lower risk of depression.
Drinking coffee can also improve physical health, as it has been shown to improve heart health. A study with over 21,000 people found that those with a greater coffee intake have a lower chance of heart failure. Greater coffee intake has also been shown to decrease the chance of certain cancers, specifically colon cancer. Coffee drinkers have a 26% lower risk of getting colon cancer in comparison to non-coffee drinkers. Extra flavors that are added to coffee like vanilla extract, cardamom, cinnamon, and cocoa powder, also have several health benefits. For example, vanilla extract and cocoa powder can lower blood pressure, cardamom and cinnamon prevent heart disease, and more.
Although some claim that tea is better since coffee may cause stress and sickness, tea has been found to cause similar symptoms. Tea can also worsen mental health issues, including anxiety. Camellia Sinensis, the plant used in black teas, causes restlessness and sleeplessness in some of those who drink it. The tannins in the tea leaves may also cause tea drinkers to experience nausea, dizziness, heartburn, and headaches.
Some may argue that tea is a healthier substitute for coffee, but it is evident that coffee is superior. Not only does it taste better, but also has greater mental and physical health benefits. Without it, who knows how you would survive that Monday morning.
