Tea, Coffee & You: It’s OK
The two most common in-office beverages, tea and coffee, have been panned by wellness consultants for creating a new breed of dependents. But this may just be a storm in a teacup
Random workplace surveys in the UK have proven that the staff can get pretty steamed up over hot drinks. Nine years ago, London Underground staff, in fact, threatened to go on strike when kettles were introduced to replace tea urns. Their grouse: it will make them late for shifts. When the credit crunch dried up the free watering holes in many companies, a survey by uSwitchforbusiness.com in 2010 claimed that trouble was brewing. It warned: “Cutting out the free cuppas may add to the bottom line, but there may be a far greater price to be paid in staff morale.”
Tea or coffee — free or not — is the preferred poison at work. Most employees can’t get to work without their first walk-into-work cuppa. The Chapel, a business centre in London, actually makes a case for their ultra-modern office facility on the basis of free coffee. The release reads: “A new poll has revealed that 65% of people drink coffee at work, while 38% say they can’t live without it, and 37% of people would rather have access to freshly brewed coffee everyday than have a staff Christmas party.” That’s how important coffee at the workplace is.
The release makes a case for coffee at the workplace for keeping the employee morale up, helping them to manage their finances better and to help improve performance at work. But the workplace coffee is like popping multi vitamins — reckless consumption can lead to a toxic overdose. “We have lost the balance of how much to drink. We end up bingeing on tea and coffee. Having 6-7 cups a day, which many office-goers tend to, is potentially troublesome,” says Dr Shikha Sharma, a health and wellness consultant. As Jeff Bezos, the founder of amazon.com said: “In Seattle, you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it is running.”
Both tea and coffee, in their natural form — simply boiled in water — help you. But the real culprits, according to nutritionists, are the additives: sugar, cream and milk. The ‘adulterated’ forms of tea and coffee contain nothing but diluted effects of what the original promises. And if you are habitually drinking machine tea or coffee, instead of the brewed and boiled, all you are deriving is a sugar rush.
“These are premixes which are a concentrated source of sugar. Drinking too much can increase the consumption of sugar which might lead to weight gain. Also, excess consumption of such beverages dehydrates the body. As a result the skin becomes rough, dry and brittle,” says Dr Divya Choudhary, a senior nutritionist with Fortis Hospitals.
Choudhary suggests that dependents should try to control their portion sizes, if not kick the habit. If the latter is unimaginable, switch to healthier varieties like green tea and decaffeinated coffee. Develop a habit of drinking a plain glass of water each time you down a cup. And carry your own flask or stock up on teabags. If you are still unsure about the best way to drink, read on.
High on Chai
It’s Good Because…
In its original form, tea gives you polyphenols, which help prevent blood clotting It lowers cholesterol Neutralises enzymes that aid growth of tumours and deactivates cancer promoters Stimulates the immune system It also contains theanine which delay ageing Fights high blood pressure Fights against viral and bacterial infection Improves the functions of the digestive and excretory systems
The Ideal Way
Stick to 3-4 cups Avoid the machine-brewed variety Limit the milk and sugar content Too Much Can
Cause giddiness Lead to sore throat Disturb your sleep pattern Some researches claim it can demineralise the bones
Who Should Avoid
People with ADD, stress related disorders & those with mood disorders
Full of Beans
It’s Good Because…
It’s a natural stimulant and makes you more alert It’s a good remedy for water retention New research proves that it prevents cancer, asthma attacks and even liver cirrhosis Women who drank coffee showed 20% less chances of developing breast cancer
G Too Much Can
Create dependence, like nicotine does for smokers Lead to excessive urination putting a load on the kidneys. It’s a natural diuretic Discolour your teeth Increase the secretion of acid in the stomach Hinder iron absorption from food, even if consumed with meals Lead to high blood pressure Disturb sleep patterns
The Ideal Way
Stick to 2 cups a day Avoid the machine brews Avoid sugar and milk
Who Should Avoid
Pregnant women, people with nerve related disorders
Juice it Up
Easily the healthiest alternative to coffee or tea. Nutritionists advice to steer clear of the packaged varieties — they have added sugar, stabilisers & acidity regulators. Go for fresh juices at local juice shop. Made from seasonal fruits, they are a great source of energy, fibre and nutrients. Or carry freshly squeezed juices from home.
To Diet For
Diet sodas, rather Coke, has created its own band of dependents. Sensitivity to Aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in most diet sodas, can cause dizziness, headaches and mood swings. Also, some studies show that too much soda can cause brittle bones. Need we mention the caffeine content which creates Diet Coke dependency.
Soupy Tales
The weather is right for a soup. But if you are taking the machine soups at work then you are just drinking flavoured hot water. Not to mention intaking high levels of salt and corn flour. While a cup is all right once a week, nothing works like soups made out of fresh veggies or meat.
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