Caffeine dependence causes the need for more and more caffeine to produce the same energy boost. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine. Too much coffee can cause symptoms like shaking, headaches, and an upset stomach. Sometimes our dependency on coffee and the caffeine boost becomes all too evident when we begin to suffer from caffeine withdrawal or can’t quite get started with our day without a drop. For some, that dependency is a sign it’s time to look for a replacement. But is there truly an alternative that offers the same great taste and benefits as our morning lattes? Whether you are looking to spice up your coffee routine or replace it with a healthier option, we’ve got five great alternatives to coffee for you.
Do It Slowly and Be Careful of Sugary Alternatives
For some, weaning off caffeinated beverages like coffee causes them to become irritable and moody. Phasing out caffeine can negatively impact concentration as your body struggles to become accustomed to functioning without it. If you consume the majority of your caffeine in the form of soft drink or sugar-sweetened coffee, like cola, energy drinks and iced coffee, when you stop drinking these, the sudden reduction of sugar in your diet may make caffeine withdrawal-induced anxiety even worse, as our addiction to sugar can be just as bad (even more so!).
Our Top 5 Healthier Alternatives
1. Green Tea
Green tea is a great alternative to coffee. You get your caffeine hit along with many other health benefits. From improving brain functioning to helping with weight loss and protecting against cancer, if you are not drinking green tea presently, you might want to start incorporating this beverage into your daily routine! And yes, it does need to be green tea. Green tea goes through the least amount of processing compared to other teas which is why it contains the most antioxidants and is so good for you.
You can even have a green tea latte – also known as Matcha, they are delicious!
2. Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented tea drink made from sugar, tea, and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (commonly known as the SCOBY). While kombucha is becoming more mainstream now, it’s actually been around since 220 B.C. The most well-known health benefit is the potential source of probiotics. It’s also believed to have similar health benefits to drinking green tea. However, in the case of kombucha, you can have too much of a good thing. It contains a small amount of alcohol so may not be suitable for everyone. Make sure you read more about it if you are thinking of jumping on this fermented bandwagon.
3. Turmeric Latte
Turmeric lattes – also known as golden milk – is a popular drink in India. You may have seen them spring up at your local cafes. This golden drink is made by warming up the milk of your choice with ground turmeric. Other spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves can be added along with sweeteners such as maple syrup or honey. It is reported that turmeric lattes contain antioxidants along with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and folate. With a wide range of health benefits such as reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system, we hope this is a trend that will stick around. As it doesn’t contain caffeine it’s a great alternative to a late afternoon coffee.
4. Smoothies
Smoothies aren’t just for the summer! They can be a fantastic way to get our recommended serving of fruit and vegetables in our diets. There’s plenty of healthy ingredients that combine well together for flavour and energy. Fresh herbs and spices such as mint or ginger are uplifting, help to clear the senses and can even aid in digestion. Spinach is another great ingredient to add to your smoothie, it’s a superfood, which basically means that it is packed with nutrients and essential vitamins – while a green smoothie might not always be visually appealing, by adding in other ingredients you can make it taste amazing!
5. Chai
Perfect for the winter and the colder months, chai is second only to the hot chocolate when it comes to the cosiest drink ever. Chai is made up of a mixture of a few different spices, mainly cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla – basically the best sweet Christmas flavours! Chai comes in a few different forms; powdered, to make into lattes or mix into other food or drink, and in tea form with the dried ingredients, ready to be soaked in boiled water and consumed nice and toasty! For the lovers of sweet things, you can’t go wrong with a chai – spiced or vanilla!
Whether you are looking to reduce the amount of coffee you consume or cut it out completely, we hope you are inspired to try some of these alternatives!
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