Green tea vs Coffee

[Patyal]

Does any of you have any references/information that may explain why caffeine from coffee is bad, but not so caffeine from green tea?

Edit: Or both caffeine sources are bad, but green tea produces beneficial results from catechins?

Thanks :D

[Blondell]

Caffeine is caffeine.

[Inatic]

who said caffiene from coffee is bad?

If your sensitive to caffiene it's bad, otherwise im not aware of any issues.

Green tea has other 'claims' which is why they prolly push it.

[Patyal]

I have read that coffee increases levels of cortisol, which makes some people difficult to lose the belly fat. However, I haven't found anything about green tea producing the same effect. :shrug:

[Blondell]

Did it say caffeine was the cause?

[Patyal]

Did it say caffeine was the cause?
Yep :nod:

I gave up coffee a long time ago, because I was having testosteron/estrogen issues. I did so because my doctor told me that caffeine affects adrenal glands, making them slow the production of hormones, plus the coffee was making my body to increase cortisol levels.

OK... so I switched to green tea, which apparently doesn't raise cortisol.

I just can't find information on why caffeine from coffee raises cortisol and affects adrenal glands, but green tea doesn't.

[Patyal]

Ok... I found it! :p

I'm posting just for reference, since I originated the question and for anyone interested.

Health benefits

Tea - research shows that green tea may prevent cancer, restrict blood cholesterol, control high blood pressure, lower blood sugar, suppress aging, deter food poisoning prevent and treat skin disease, stop cavities and fight viruses. "Green tea is truly a "miraculous medicine" with an extraordinary power to prolong life and prevent disease - Dr. H. Inaba, Food Chemicals

Tea May Offer 10 Major Health Benefits
1) Green tea may prevent cancer.
Research suggests that the consumption of 5-6 cups of green tea per day by the majority of men and women in Japan is linked to the significantly lower rate of cancer. Studies have shown that in order for cancer to form two things have to be present; an "initiator" which damages DNA in the cell rendering it subject to cancer and a " promotor" which activates cancer, leading to a malignancy. The tannin and catechin in green tea reduces both the "initiator" and "promotor".

2) Green tea may restrict blood cholesterol.
High cholesterol is associated with a wide range of diseases in adults. Green tea catechin restricts the excessive buildup of "bad" cholesterol and also limits excessive blood cholesterol.

3) Green tea may control high blood pressure.
Mice experiments indicate that daily consumption of green tea catechin has the ability to prevent a rise in blood pressure

4) Green tea may lower blood sugar.
About 60 years ago, Dr. Minowada of Kyoto University noticed that sugar in the urine of hospitalized diabetes patients fell markedly during periods when they participated in the Tea Ceremony. He reported that tea had the capability of lowering blood sugar. In recent years studies by Dr. Y. Hara and Dr. M. Shimizu have demonstrated that green tea catechin has an ability to lower blood sugar, and polysaccharidesin green tea possess the same ability.

5) Green tea may suppress aging.
One way of slowing down aging is to prevent the productive of active oxygen and lipid peroxide in the body. Oxygen can oxidize cell membranes, which damage DNA. Catechin in green tea contains antioxidants 20 time stronger than Vitamin E.

6) Green tea refreshes the body.
Green tea taken in proper quantity stimulates every organ in the body.

7) Green tea may deter food poisoning.
Green tea catechin is a powerful sterilizing agent for many types of bacteria that cause food poisoning.

8) Green tea may prevent and treat skin disease.
Soaking in green tea treats athlete's foot, bed sores & skin disease.

9) Green tea may stop cavitie.
Cariogenic bacteria create glucan, which creates plaque. Green tea catechin can destroy cariogenic bacteria.

10) Green tea may fight virus.
Green tea catechin and theaflavin (an oxidized form of catechin present in black tea) have a strong effect on the influenza virus. The anti-viral capability of green tea catachin may have some beneficial effect on the AIDS virus.

vs.

Coffee- no research was found to suggest that coffee may enhance health. Upon reviewing the characteristics of coffee the presence of carbohydrates, minerals, and phenolic acid suggest the possibility of potential health benefits but apparently not substantial enough to be noteworthy

Caffeine content and effects
Tea - Tea has approximately 55 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Various teas contain different amounts of caffeine. Green tea contains the least, about one-third the caffeine as black and oolong about two-thirds as much. The caffeine in tea is said to increase concentration, and enhance the sense of taste and smell. The effect of caffeine in tea usually takes longer to enter the blood stream than coffee therefore, seems gentler to the system.
Vs.
Coffee - Coffee has approximately 125-185 milligrams of caffeine per cup. The caffeine in coffee is sometimes associated with a lift followed by a letdown. The effects of the caffeine in coffee are immediate and sometimes arouse feelings of anxiety known as "coffee jitters". Many varieties of decaffeinated coffees are available on the market today.

Note: the University of California at Berkley Wellness Letter/1988 that tea or coffee drunk in moderation (two reported it cups of coffee a day and four or five cups of black tea) has no harmful effects.

Characteristics
Tea - Tea contains tannin, catechin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Natural fluorine and Polysaccharides. Tannin and catechin have been associated with preventing cancer and heart disease

Coffee - Coffee contains caffeine, trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, phenolic acid, amino acid, carbohydrates, minerals, organic acids aldehydes, ketones, esters, amines, and mercaptans. None of the ingredients in coffee have been associated with fighting disease or enhancing health.

[synergyb3]

Caffeine is caffeine...


Coffee- no research was found to suggest that coffee may enhance health. Upon reviewing the characteristics of coffee the presence of carbohydrates, minerals, and phenolic acid suggest the possibility of potential health benefits but apparently not substantial enough to be noteworthy

I gave up coffee for a year thinking it was "bad" for me. The only difference it made was I missed my occasional cup of coffee. I researched and found a lot of info that suggested there are benefits and happily added it back in.

I think that like many things it is good for us in moderation. Like most things, too much can be bad.

Here's support in favor of drinking coffee:

Coffee: The New Health Food? (http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food?print=true)

Enjoy! You thought coffee was bad for you? (http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/051219/19coffee.htm)

Is Coffee Good For You? (http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Coffee-Good-For-You?&id=93668)

Forbes has a list (http://www.forbes.com/2005/10/11/cx_sy_1012featslide_print.html)

*pours another cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee* :p

[Audrey]

I don't think caffeine from coffee is any different than caffeine from tea. What differs though is the amount of caffeine in a cup of green tea compared to the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee. In addition, people tend to drink more coffee (several cups a day) while you may only drink 1-2 cups of green tea a day.

[liftr]

I thought I had read that coffee has some antioxidants in it. I will have to see if I can find that info.

[fitkitten]

coffee has TONS of antioxidants, as does green tea. as with all things, moderation is key and too much coffee can be awful. however, a cup a day (sans cream and sugar for obvious reasons) can be great for you