Coffee or Tea

I love coffee.  I like tea.  I don't find myself torn about either one, but I find the controversy over coffee and tea consumption interesting.  Should we drink either?  Are they bad for us?  Are they good for us?!  What's a bitter beverage lover to do?

Homemade Latte with whole milk and a little Cinnamon = ~60 cals and 4g fat

The truth is the same for many questions about nutrition - it depends.  Overdoing it on caffeinated beverages is a bad idea.  Since caffeine is a stimulant, it can certainly cause in increase in heart rate, which isn't good for those who already have high blood pressure.  In addition, it can interfere with sleep.  For those who are particularly sensitive, caffeine can interfere with falling and staying asleep for hours after being enjoyed.  Finally, if you like your sugar with a little coffee or tea, you could have problems.  While coffee and tea are nearly free of calories on their own, when you add several teaspoons of sugar and cream, you can quickly approach a hundred calories per cup.  Don't even get me started on the coffee shop specialty drinks that can run well into the hundreds of calories - even close to a THOUSAND for one grand cup.

Tall PSL = 330 calories and 14g fat

But if you're drinking 3 cups or less a day and avoiding all the added fat and sugar, there may be some benefits.  Researchers have found that coffee and tea contain potent antioxidants.  They may help control blood sugar.  People who drink modest amounts may benefit from the mental alertness (though overdoing it really lessens this over time) caffeine provides.  So if you like coffee or tea, enjoy them...in moderation.  Be healthy!