The Coffee And Tea Controversy

6 Pages 1375 Words

The Coffee and Tea Controversy
Humans have been brewing up coffee for over one thousand years and tea for over four thousand years. Both have often been viewed as a ways to take time to relax on a stressful day or as a folk remedy for colds and such. Some people also view them as harmful drugs. There has always been speculation about whether they are beneficial or detrimental to a person’s health. In the Word of Wisdom, part of Mormon doctrine, it says, “And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly” (Revelation). “Church leaders have said that this means coffee and tea, which contain harmful drugs. We should avoid all drinks that contain harmful drugs.” (Gospel). Is that true? In the Los Angeles Times article, titled “Steeped in science,” author Shari Roan addresses the health aspects of tea consumption proven from countless studies, almost 300 of them were just recently completed. With these new studies, the evidence is possibly mounting to the point where no one will be able to deny the benefits of tea or coffee.
The results of these studies are showing time and time again that coffee and/or tea consumed on a regular basis has a wide spectrum of health benefits: high levels of antioxidants, reduced risk of heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, reduced risk of certain types of cancer, increased protection from osteoporosis, gallstones, asthma, depression, and more (Roan)(Bodeau).
Tea, whether it’s black tea, green tea, or oolong all comes from the same tea leaf. The difference in color comes from the different fermentation process used to produce the different types of tea. Regardless of the process, they all contain high levels of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants are very similar to what makes certain fruits and vegetables so healthy. One study estimated that the antioxidants found in tea are as much as thirty times more powerful than the antioxidants vitamin...