Hundreds of college students can be found guzzling down cups of coffee each day. They carry it in reusable tumblers, café cups, or artisan containers. College students may feel like they need a few cups of the bitter liquid caffeine to get through an average day. Coffee is deeply rooted in college culture.
My relaxed coffee habits transformed into habitual consumption. There are various consequences and benefits to consuming coffee, I was never convinced of either argument. Rather than harp on the detrimental effects of coffee consumption, I focused on how tea could boost health.
I am a bit of a health nut. Naturally, I found myself hours deep in nutrition documentaries, blogs, and books. There was still no consistent coffee condemnation. Green tea was, on the other hand, unanimously praised.
Tea is great for your health. Polyphenols catechin and epicatechin, chemicals that are both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, are widely found in tea. A Harvard Studyconcluded tea drinkers have a lower risk of contracting diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. In large quantities, tea may be a helpful tool for weight loss, to protect bones, and to strengthen teeth. Tea improves immune system health. Tea is generally consumed naturally or with sugar keeping the drink low in calories, unlike coffee.
There are assorted herbal, yellow, mate, rooibos, white, oolong, blooming, and spice teas. My favorite was passion, the pink-red drink girls on campus tote home from Starbucks. I also tried mango black, pina colada, and youthberry. My first glass of citrus mint green left me hooked. Although not a direct replacement for coffee, it was even better. Coffee contains 40 mg of caffeine and Jade Citrus Mint tea contains 15 mg: the perfect amount of caffeine to bring you out of a midday slump. Mint excites the palate and citrus tones down the bitterness.
The tea switch improved my life in a number of subtle ways. I could only achieve a similarly flavorful coffee by adding creams, syrups, and sugars leading to impending crashes. These tasty, fattening coffees left me dehydrated and bloated. These effects and previous dark circles from coffee consumption disappeared. Tea drinking is non-compulsory. Tea comforts me, boosts my mood, and enhances productivity.
This is no prescription to cut out coffee from your life and switch to an all-tea diet. Instead, give tea a try. See how you feel after a few weeks spent drinking less coffee.
If you are looking for a more direct replacement for your traditional cup of joe, I would go for a chai containing 39 milligrams of caffeine. Go easy on the milk to retain the health benefits. Not fully convinced you are ready to switch? Tea companies have produced some coffee-inspired or coffee bean-infused teas for your liking. Whether you are feeling adventurous, prepared for a cultural experience, open-minded, safe, or hesitant, there are millions of teas for you to try. Just by integrating occasional tea-drinking into your routine, you will reap the benefits from compromising on your usual brew.