Coffee is the go to for most people looking for a little bump in energy to get their day started or to get past that 3:00 slump. But, coffee can have some negative effects. In this article from Dr. Axe, he presents 5 options for energy to replace or supplement your coffe use:
“Love the buzz from your steamy mug of coffee but hate the slump after your spike in energy? We have found five delicious alternatives to coffee that will keep you energized throughout the day and deliver amazing health benefits.
But first, let’s talk more about coffee and why you may want to consider making a switch.
The Dark Side of Coffee
The recommended daily maximum is 3–4 cups which is 400 mg of caffeine, and for the average person, drinking coffee can be healthy in moderation. (1) But drinking more than the daily recommended level of coffee (or any at all, for those sensitive to caffeine) may result in some adverse health effects that are consistent with a caffeine overdose. Those effects can include:
- Weight gain: Caffeine in coffee can increase the level of your stress hormone cortisol, and elevated cortisol may cause weight gain. (2, 3)
- Low energy: Caffeine stimulates the body’s adrenal system, which boosts energy for a short time but then crashes it to leave you fatigued.
- Mineral deficiency: Caffeine affects iron absorption in your stomach. It also reduces your kidneys’ ability to store calcium, zinc, magnesium and other important minerals. (4)
- Disrupted sleep: Caffeine stays in your nervous system for 4–6 hours, so even if you feel fatigued when you go to bed, the caffeine can still disrupt your sleep. (5)
Sound scary? Or does the idea of having to power through your day without caffeine sound even scarier?
Well, fear not! Next are 5 great alternatives to coffee that will help you keep your coffee cravings in check but your energy levels soaring!
5 Healthy Alternatives to Coffee
1. Matcha Green Tea Powder
Matcha green tea powder is the whole green tea leaf stone ground into a fine powder. To drink matcha, dissolve the powder into water creating a tea packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Matcha is an excellent alternative to coffee. A two-gram serving of matcha (a little more than half a teaspoon) contains enough caffeine to give you an energy boost, but the amount is only 1/5th the caffeine in a standard cup of coffee. Additionally, the caffeine in matcha is delivered slowly to your body over a period of 6–8 hours. As a result, matcha delivers long lasting energy that does not leave you with the “jitters,” energy slumps or sleepless nights. (6)
Matcha also contains the highest natural concentration of the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine promotes Alpha waves in the brain which enhance concentration and boost dopamine to improve memory. (7) And there are many more incredible matcha health benefits, including its ability to support the immune system, boost weight loss and deliver cancer-fighting antioxidants.(8, 9).
Be sure to buy matcha green tea powder that is high quality so you receive the full health benefits.
2. Water
Did you know that one of the primary signs of dehydration is fatigue? If you feel tired, have a headache or are finding it hard to focus, then you may actually be dehydrated.
The majority of people make the mistake of drinking water only when they feel thirsty. Thirst, however, is one of the last symptoms that appears as a result of dehydration — and usually only after fatigue the fatigue sets in. When lacking adequate hydration, science has proven that your body will not perform at its best. One study of athletes found that low levels of dehydration significantly affected their capacity for exercise. (10)
To help you drink enough water (the daily recommended amount for adults is about two liters, or half a gallon), keep a bottle with you at all times, and try infusing it with natural flavor from fresh produce, like watermelon, cucumber or ginger.”
To get the remaining 3 alternatives, continue reading the article over on the Dr. Axe website by clicking the link below:
Image courtesy of: Thousands of Jackdaws