Kick your Caffeine Habit out
4 Great Coffee Alternatives

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“We drink caffeine to fire us up, sugar to keep us going and alcohol to bring us down” (Dr Marc Cohen). This is the story of modern lifestyle beverages that make your health and your willpower suffer. 

Working with countless women and men on weight management, clean eating, detoxification and fasting, I often meet people reluctant at first to give up their daily (multiple) coffees, their frequent glass of alcohol or their habitual soft drinks. And for good reasons: when they withdraw without supervision, their willpower let them down or they experience drastic side effects such as headaches, constipation, agitation…

Let’s see, what’s happening in your body when you consume caffeine day in and day out, or when you rely on it to go through your day?

1- Caffeine is a psychostimulant. It acts on the emotional and pleasure response in the brain that may lead to addiction. Ever tried to give up and end up with lethargy and headaches?

2- Caffeine is an energy stimulant. It makes you feel alert by blocking the adenosine receptors in the brain. Great to feel awake but not so good when you lose the signal it’s time to wind down (because you are stressed, overwhelmed or it’s time to sleep).

3- Caffeine is a digestive stimulant. It raises your stomach acid levels. This can cause heartburn and is not good if you suffer from ulcers.

4- Caffeine improves your focus. However, it may become harder to focus on anything after consuming too much. So you tend to get more for the same effects.

These psychotropic & addictive effects show that moderation is key.

People engaging in our Weight Management or Fasting programs are learning to experience vitality without these external stimulants, through a step by step process. Caffeine beverages are then reintroduced occasionally as a treat. For some sensitive or addictive personality we are working with long-term alternatives.

I invite you to follow the evidence given by your body. Pay attention to how you feel when you drink a coffee. Do you feel good for a short period and then feel irritable or sluggish? Are you more sensitive to pain? Did you notice you need more for the same effects?

4 Best Coffee Substitutes for A Change

1 – WATER

Water is the best energy drink. Mild dehydration is the main reason we experience fatigue as well as difficulty to concentrate and headaches. As soon as you are dehydrated your metabolism starts to slow down and you feel sluggish. Remember that when you are thirsty you are already mildly dehydrated.

If you are not used to sip some water along the day, set an alarm, get into the habit of filling regularly your glass and add some fresh mint and lemon for a zesty feeling!

You can check your hydration status by monitoring the colour of  your urine.

 2 – GREEN TEA

Yes, green tea contains caffeine but a smaller amount than black tea or coffee does. And its beneficial effects are countless: it promotes weight loss by increasing metabolism, it is high in antioxidant for healthy ageing, it decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, and it helps improve mental clarity and performance making it a good alternative to coffee for wake me up. In our clean eating, weight loss or fasting programs, green tea is always recommended. You can drink it iced, hot or as a Creamy Matcha Latte.

3 – WHEATGRASS

Daily wheatgrass will ensure you get the minerals, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and chlorophyll your need for optimum energy in one shot! Wheatgrass juice is a must if you have a juice bar nearby. If not, use some quality wheatgrass powder.

Add 1 to 2 tsp in warm water in the morning. If you don’t get used to the taste, be persistent. If you prefer, add a small amount of 100% natural organic apple juice and fill the glass with water. This nourishing powder is easily digested and is a great natural energy supplement.

4 – DANDELION ROOT TEA

This is a great option if you miss the bitter taste of coffee, without the caffeine. Dandelion root tea is a digestive aid that supports liver and kidney function. When your liver is functioning optimally your energy levels rise.

An alternative to support further your liver is to start your day with a glass of warm water with some freshly pressed lemon juice.

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