Quit Coffee and Pick These Up Instead
Did you know that coffee is and has been a staple morning item in this country since 1773 when it was considered a patriotic drink following the Boston Tea Party?
Over the years there has been a lot of research done on coffee and what exactly it does to the human body. Some people are totally in love with their morning joe and others avoid it like the plague. With evidence saying it has health benefits and other evidence saying the opposite, it really has come down to personal preference and how coffee affects your body specifically.
If you’re someone who is strictly opposed to coffee or someone who is trying to cut back or transition to another morning drink, this is the blog post for you! We are going to cover drinks with similar caffeine content, drinks with less caffeine than coffee, and caffeine free/low caffeine drinks that taste like coffee so there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
These 7 options for coffee drinkers provide the best morning pick-me-up without the caffeine jitters.
1. Chicory Root behaves similarly to coffee beans. Chicory root can be roasted, ground, and brewed into a hot beverage that has a similar flavor to coffee but is caffeine free. Chicory root is also great because it is full of inulin, a soluble fiber that supports healthy gut function and digestion by promoting the growth of healthy bacteria. In many places you can buy chicory root pre-ground, then you take it home and brew it like you would ground coffee!
2. Functional Mushrooms are great to drink warm. Often you can find them mixed with cacao for a chocolatey vibe. They have a toasty flavor with a fraction of the caffeine. Many functional mushroom powder blends use lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, and cordyceps as their superfood base.
This blend of mushrooms enhances your focus, boosts your immune system, stimulates your energy levels, provides antioxidants and who doesn’t love a little bit of chocolate in addition?
3. Matcha is more than a trendy, green hipster drink. Yes, we promise. Matcha is ground up tea leaves, so you get more health benefits than just drinking the brewed green tea. When you drink matcha you are getting a concentrated amount of the antioxidants which help with lowering blood pressure levels and helping to reduce body fat.
Matcha has an earthy taste, and the levels of caffeine can vary. Matcha and all green teas contain an amino acid called L-theanine, which helps with stress, overactive mind chatter, and helps negate the less-than-desirable effects of caffeine.
4. Warm water with fresh lemon juice is nothing like coffee but is better for you in the mornings by a landslide. According to Aryveduic medicine, warm water with lemon is the best thing to prepare your digestive tract for the day ahead.
Another benefit is that your body will get proper hydration first thing and lemon is full of antioxidants. Being properly hydrated will help to prevent fatigue, headaches, joint and muscle stiffness, and dry skin. Also, it tastes pretty good and if you like you can add a touch of raw honey or cayenne for a sweet or spicy twist!
5. Golden Milk is a traditional drink originating in India. This can also easily be made into a latte but without coffee is equally delicious and satisfying. I personally adore this drink because it’s warm and soothing like coffee but boasts more health benefits and doesn’t contain any caffeine.
This drink has ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, vanilla, honey, and black pepper. At first, it sounds like an odd mix but after drinking it, you realize how all of these flavors truly complement one another. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, the black pepper helps your body to absorb the curcumin (anti-inflammatory agent in turmeric), cinnamon is antibacterial and antiviral, ginger is anti-inflammatory and may help to lower blood pressure, and cardamom increases your metabolic rate!
6. Yerba Mate is a great drink that has risen in popularity, and for a good reason. Yerba Mate is a South American drink that contains naturally occurring caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. Typically you buy this drink cold and in a can. It usually comes in a variety of flavors and packs a punch when it comes to caffeine content.
You can also buy Yerba Mate tea bags and brew them at home. If you’re brewing at home and don’t like the taste you can add milk and/or sugar to your liking. Yerba Mate, like coffee, is full of polyphenols which have antibacterial properties and can help protect your body against disease and free radicals.
7. Chai Tea contains less caffeine than coffee but can still boost mental alertness. Chai tea contains antioxidants and has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease. Chai tea has a rich, full bodied flavor and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Chai tea is made with a combination of black tea, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, cloves, sometimes star anise, coriander and peppercorns are often used as well. There are similar ingredients used in chai tea that are also used in Golden Milk, both boasting a host of health benefits.
As you can see, there are quite a few coffee substitutes out there and you may enjoy some more than others. The cool thing is that you can mix and match as needed. Try out one or more and see how they work!
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