Either due to cooler weather or perhaps because of anxiety-disrupted sleep, many of us have taken to upping our intake of coffee or tea these days. And while the excess caffeine may cause jitters, new research also indicates that drinking tea and coffee may have valuable health benefits, especially when both are consumed during the course of a day.

We know from prior agebuzz posts that coffee has been found to have protective health properties as does tea, particularly green tea. In newly published research out of Japan, researchers found that drinking green tea and coffee, especially when both are consumed, can have a significant positive impact on people with Type 2 diabetes. Specifically, among those study participants who consumed 4 or more cups a day of green tea along with 2 cups of coffee, there was a 63% lower risk of death during the 5-year study. While the reasons for this are still unclear (though both contain nutrients that reduce inflammation), and this was an observational study (meaning you can’t assume cause and effect), researchers are hopeful that this is one more piece of mounting evidence to support the health benefits of tea and coffee. So heat up the kettle and read more here. It’s important to note, however, that Americans often drink coffee with sugar and milk, which may reduce health benefits, and also, the nature and quality of Japanese green tea differ from that available in the United States. So if you’re interested in sipping some teas directly from Japan, pull out your Yen and click here.

There is also a new study out of the UK showing that the chemical compound flavanol, found in tea (as well as red wine, berries, and cocoa) may work to lower high blood pressure, akin to the results you might see from adherence to the Mediterranean diet. For more on this research, read here.

Finally, one additional word of advice for coffee drinkers. It turns out that when you consume your morning cup of Joe might have an impact on your body’s ability to maintain a healthy metabolism. While many of us seek out a cup of coffee the moment we slide out of bed, especially if we’ve had trouble sleeping, the reality is that an immediate morning coffee rush may negatively affect your body’s ability to control your blood sugar. So the recommendation is to eat your healthy breakfast first before sipping your cup of coffee. For more insights into these coffee considerations, turn on the Keurig, and click here.