plants that coffee and tea come from,” Diekman, a St. Louis food and nutrition consultant and sports dietitian shares.
“It appears from this [new] study that the mechanism is once again the caffeine and the antioxidant action,” she adds. “This finding certainly supports what we know about so many plant foods: They offer many health-related benefits beyond just the vitamins and minerals they contain.”
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Another U.S. expert agreed, noting that coffee and tea contain several chemical compounds, not just caffeine, which have health benefits.
“There are many possibilities of how these chemicals could work in the body, from antioxidants, anti-inflammation, increase blood flow, protect blood vessels from damage, and so on,” Lona Sandon, an associate professor and program director in clinical nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas says. “These effects could influence the risk of dementia or stroke.”
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How much coffee or tea should you consume?
Neither Sandon nor Diekman was particularly concerned about the quantity of coffee or tea in question.
Sandon notes that 4 to 6 cups is fairly common in many countries, while Diekman notes that current guidelines indicate that 3 to 5 (8-ounce) cups of coffee a day appear to be safe for most adults.
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The point now is whether non-drinkers should start based on these findings, Diekman shares.
“That question,” she said, “still needs more research.”
Although there are many health benefits to consuming coffee or tea including a lower likelihood of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s Disease, liver disease and endometrial cancers; you should still be cautious about how much you consume. Too much caffeine can make you anxious or irritable and cause you to have trouble sleeping. If you are concerned about how coffee or tea may affect your health or are experiencing any complications, consult your doctor.