Tea and coffee for hectic life



Let's face it – most of us can't resist a cup of tea or coffee sometimes. They're a perfect pick-me-up and comforter. But there are alternative beverages, so why have we chosen these as our go-to drinks to soothe our hectic lives? And which one is superior?



Let's start with tea – it's the second most consumed drink in the world. For many – especially the British – having a 'cuppa' is a daily ritual. The caffeine contained in it helps wake you up in the morning, and throughout the day we'll make a brew to distract us from our work or to be sociable.



And according to some scientists, habitual tea consumption can have some health benefits. Andrew Steptoe, a professor from University College London's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, told BBC Food that drinking black tea "may speed up recovery from the daily stresses in life… but we do not know what ingredients of tea were responsible for these effects on stress recovery and relaxation".



Coffee is tea's 'trendier' rival. Its popularity has grown over the years, and this is reflected in the number of coffee shops we see around – places to hang out, do business or catch up with friends. Coffee can taste great and can be served in many ways, but it's sometimes how you have it that can be seen as a status symbol or the preserve of hipsters!



Of course, it gives you a strong caffeine hit – roughly double of that contained in tea. However, too much can lead to anxiety. Sleep scientist Matt Walker told the BBC that caffeine can decrease the amount of restorative deep sleep you have.



But some scientists say drinking coffee – and green tea – can also be good for us. Researchers at Osaka University linked drinking a daily cup of coffee with a lower risk of death among both stroke survivors and healthy people, while drinking seven or more cups of green tea was associated with a lower risk of death among both heart attack and stroke survivors. So, whether we turn to coffee or tea for its taste, its image or as a lifestyle choice, it could be a lifesaver!



词汇表

pick-me-up 提神饮料，提神物品

comforter [ˈkʌmfətə(r)] 起安慰作用的人或物

alternative beverages [ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv ˈbevərɪdʒɪz] 替代饮品

go-to drinks 首选饮品，常备饮品

soothe [suːð] 缓解，减轻（疼痛、压力等）

hectic [ˈhektɪk] 忙碌的，繁忙的

superior [suːˈpɪəriə(r)] 更好的，更胜一筹的

cuppa [ˈkʌpə] （英式口语）一杯茶

daily ritual [ˈrɪtʃuəl] 日常仪式，例行公事，习惯

caffeine [ˈkæfiːn] 咖啡因

make a brew [bruː] 泡茶，煮咖啡

sociable [ˈsəʊʃəbl] 合群的，好交际的，善于社交的

habitual [həˈbɪtʃuəl] 习惯性的，惯常的

epidemiology [ˌepɪˌdiːmiˈɒlədʒi] 流行病学

ingredient [ɪnˈɡriːdiənt] 成分，原料

trendy [ˈtrendi] 时髦的，流行的

rival [ˈraɪvl] 竞争对手

hang out 聚会，一起玩；闲逛

catch up with 与…叙旧，了解的近况

status symbol [ˈsteɪtəs] 身份象征，地位的象征

preserve [prɪˈzɜːv] （某人或某团体的）专属领域，独有活动

hipster [ˈhɪpstə(r)] 潮人，赶时髦的人

restorative [rɪˈstɒrətɪv] 有助于恢复的，恢复精力的

stroke survivor [strəʊk səˈvaɪvə(r)] 中风幸存者

lifesaver [ˈlaɪfseɪvə(r)] 救命物，救星



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