Falling asleep in lecture halls is a common occurrence for many students, followed by a sudden shock as class ends, embarrassment as your friends give you amused expressions, and regret as you remember the extra work you'll have to do to make up for it. Fortunately, there are remedies to prevent this unwanted stream of emotions, two of the more popular ones being coffee and tea. It is a well-known fact that caffeine is present in both and that it helps to keep you alert and active. However, research shows that there could be even more to love about your favorite morning drink.

Despite its bad reputation, coffee has been redeemed by countless studies that aim to find health benefits of the beloved bean. One of the most significant of these is research done by several labs about coffee's ability to prevent Type 2 diabetes, a benefit that tea does not provide. In the Iowa Women's Health Study, researchers followed more than 28,000 women over a period of 11 years; those who drank at least four cups a day were 20% less likely to develop diabetes than non-drinkers.

Type 2 diabetes is not the only disease that can be prevented. Around six studies show that people who drink coffee regularly have 80% less of a chance of being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, with even more studies showing that the more you drink, the less the risk. Other research has been done to show that regular coffee drinkers have 25% less of a chance of getting colon cancer, 80% less of a chance getting liver cirrhosis, and about 50% less of a chance of getting gallstones. Even more common ailments like asthma and headaches can be reduced by a cup of joe.

Tea's healing features are better known and its reputation is less tarnished by high calories and teeth stains. Tea may help prevent clogging of arteries, reducing your risk for heart disease, may help boost your immune system, and could help strengthen bones. In Japan, studies show that women who drink at least 5 cups of green tea a day reduce their risk of heart disease by a third. In addition, studies have shown that these 5 cups of green tea could even help you burn an additional 70 to 80 calories. That's about 8 pounds in one year.

What's more, both coffee and tea are full of antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins. These compounds are responsible for stopping free radicals from harming your body and could help prevent cancer from developing. Another interesting advantage of drinking coffee or tea is caffeine's effect on athleticism. The caffeine signals the body's nervous system to behave differently, like ignoring fatigue and using extra muscle cells. As a matter of fact, caffeine is now deemed a "controlled substance" by the Olympic Games Committee because of its ability to boost athletes' performances.

However, too much coffee and tea isn't for everyone. There are certain precautions you must take with any intake of caffeine, as some people have higher tolerances than others. For example, though caffeine can boost concentration and awareness, it can increase nervousness, make your hands tremble, and cause an increase in heartbeat based on your individual tolerance for the drug. In addition, pregnant women are encouraged to limit their daily doses of caffeinated drinks because it can increase the chance of spontaneous abortion and even growth retardation of the baby (though moderate consumption is not at all harmful).

Nevertheless, experts agree that when it comes to coffee and tea the good things outweigh the bad. Furthermore, though tea, especially green and white, is recommended as the healthier drink of the two, coffee lovers have a lot to be cheerful about as well. Just remember, it's better to drink one or the other than neither at all.