Beverages Beverages

What you drink can have just as much impact on inflammation as what you eat. Green tea leads the anti-inflammatory beverage category with its high concentration of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a catechin shown to reduce inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. Coffee, rich in chlorogenic acid and polyphenols, has also been associated with lower inflammation levels when consumed in moderation without added sugar or cream.

On the other end of the spectrum, soda and energy drinks are among the most inflammatory beverages due to their extremely high sugar content, artificial additives, and zero nutritional value. Alcohol, including beer and wine, activates inflammatory pathways and increases gut permeability even in moderate amounts. Red wine's resveratrol content provides some antioxidant benefit, but the alcohol itself counteracts much of this advantage. For optimal anti-inflammatory hydration, prioritize green tea, black coffee, and plain water.

Beverages Ranked by Inflammation Score

1/10

🍵

Green Tea

Anti-Inflammatory

Green tea is rich in EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a catechin with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

3/10

☕

Coffee

Anti-Inflammatory

Coffee is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid.

5/10

🍷

Red Wine

Neutral

Red wine contains resveratrol and polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties, but alcohol itself is inflammatory.

7/10

🍺

Beer

Inflammatory

Beer is inflammatory due to its alcohol content, refined carbohydrates, and gluten.

9/10

🥤

Soda

Inflammatory

Regular soda is one of the most inflammatory beverages.

9/10

⚡

Energy Drinks

Inflammatory

Energy drinks combine excessive sugar (or artificial sweeteners), high caffeine, and artificial additives — a highly inflammatory cocktail that stresses the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Is It Inflammatory?

Learn more about the inflammatory properties of each beverages item:

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