Is coffee actually good for you?

For most adults, moderate coffee fits comfortably in a healthy pattern, and research links it with lower risk of several conditions. The main cautions are added sugar and cream, late day caffeine that disrupts sleep, and individual sensitivity.

How much caffeine is too much?

Up to around 400 milligrams a day, roughly three to four cups of coffee, is considered moderate for most healthy adults. Tolerance varies, and pregnancy, anxiety, and certain conditions call for less. Listen to your own response.

Is green tea healthier than coffee?

Both are rich in polyphenols, so the better choice is the one that suits you. Green tea has less caffeine and contains L theanine, which many people find gives a calmer lift. Coffee has more caffeine and its own well studied benefits.

Does adding milk or sugar cancel the benefits?

A splash of milk is fine. The bigger issue is sugar. Sweetened coffees and bottled teas can carry as much sugar as soda, which works against the benefits, so keep added sugar low.

Green tea and coffee: what the research shows

Coffee and green tea are two of the most studied drinks on the planet, and both come out looking good. They are rich in polyphenols, the plant compounds tied to lower inflammation and oxidative stress, and they fit comfortably into a pattern of eating built for healthy aging. The details are worth knowing so you can enjoy them at their best.

Why they are worth drinking

Both drinks deliver more than caffeine.

Coffee is one of the largest sources of antioxidants in many people's diets, and moderate intake is linked with lower risk of several conditions.
Green tea is rich in catechins, a group of polyphenols, and pairs caffeine with L theanine for a calmer kind of alertness.

The caffeine question

Caffeine is the part to handle with a little care, mostly because of sleep and timing.

It can stay active for many hours, so an afternoon coffee can still reach into your night. More on that in what to eat for deeper sleep.
It gives a real lift for steady energy, best used earlier in the day.
Sensitivity varies a lot from person to person, and pregnancy and some conditions call for less.

Getting the most from them

A few habits keep these drinks on the helpful side.

Keep caffeine to the morning and early afternoon.
Watch the add ins. Sweetened drinks can carry as much sugar as soda.
Stay in a moderate range, around three to four cups of coffee a day for most healthy adults.

The drink itself is rarely the problem. What you stir into it often is. Black coffee and plain green tea are nearly calorie free, while a sweetened cafe drink can rival a dessert.

How Poma fits in

Poma scores each meal you photograph for its effect on energy, sleep, aging, and skin. A sweetened coffee drink reads very differently than a plain one, so you can see when a daily cup is helping and when the extras are getting in the way.

Poma scores meals like these for you.

Snap a photo and watch how each meal moves your pace of aging.

Download app

The takeaway

Green tea and coffee are good news for most people. Both are rich in polyphenols, both fit a healthy pattern, and both reward a little attention to timing and sugar. Keep caffeine earlier in the day, go easy on the sweet add ins, and enjoy your cup.

Sources

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source, Coffee
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source, Tea
World Health Organization, Healthy diet

Green tea and coffee: what the research shows

Why they are worth drinking

The caffeine question

Getting the most from them

How Poma fits in

The takeaway

Sources

Frequently asked questions

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