If you’re not a morning person like me, waking up and staying awake early in the morning is challenging. That is why we drink coffee to help us remain alert and work effectively.
But what if, for some reason, you can’t or don’t want to drink coffee? Maybe your stomach gets too acidic when drinking it, like me. Or perhaps you’re allergic to caffeine. What should you do to get energized now?
Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to coffee we can drink instead. What are these caffeine substitutes? Let’s find out.
Brewed Cacao.
For chocolate lovers, one of the best alternatives to coffee is drinking brewed cacao. Just like coffee beans, cacao is roasted, ground, and brewed. The difference is that brewed cacao comes from the cacao tree, hence the name, so think of it like drinking a nice hot chocolate.
Besides being a delicious drink, brewed cacao is also a healthy alternative for energy. It contains theobromine, a natural stimulant in cacao that expands your blood vessels. This is unlike caffeine, which constricts them instead.
Additionally, it’s also less acidic than coffee, is full of antioxidants that improve your immune system, and acts as a natural appetite suppressor. So if you want to get slimmer and improve your eating habits, brewing cocoa is a great way to start your day.
Matcha.
Another of the common alternatives to coffee that you could try is matcha. Matcha is a type of green tea that’s high in antioxidants and can even help lower inflammation. Compared to regular green tea, where you only get the nutrients from the tea’s water, you consume the entire tea leaf in matcha.
Because of this, you get twice as many nutrients from drinking matcha over regular green tea. Additionally, matcha also contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which slows your body’s absorption of caffeine and helps prevent a caffeine crash.
Other benefits of drinking matcha include helping prevent cancer and type two diabetes, lowering blood pressure, and even helping combat depression.
Note that matcha also contains a small amount of caffeine. So if your body has issues with it, try the other alternatives listed here instead.
Chicory Coffee.
Don’t be fooled by its name. It may look, smell, and taste like coffee, but chicory coffee isn’t coffee.
Chicory coffee is made from chicory root and contains no caffeine, making it the perfect beverage for those with caffeine allergies. So if you want to start lessening your coffee intake but can’t get enough of its taste, try chicory coffee.
In addition to lacking caffeine, this beverage also contains inulin, a prebiotic that helps digestion and reduces inflammation. It also could lower blood sugar levels, which is excellent for those with diabetes and looking for what to drink instead of coffee and tea.
That said, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid drinking this beverage.
Golden Milk.
Also known as turmeric milk, golden milk is an increasingly popular alternative to coffee. Golden milk is made from warming cow or plant-based milk and adding turmeric, black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. This combination has a golden color to it, hence the name.
Drinking golden milk improves memory and brain function, helps reduce the risk of heart disease, and boosts your immune system.
Making golden milk is relatively simple and easy to do. You will need the following:
- Combine one cup (237 ml) of milk or a non-dairy alternative.
- ½ teaspoon of ground turmeric.
- ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.
- ⅛ teaspoon of ground ginger.
- A pinch of black pepper.
Next, combine these in one saucepan, warm the mixture on low to medium heat and stir it frequently to avoid burning. After you finish heating it, pour it into a mug and enjoy.
Lemon Water.
If you’re looking for something simple and easy on the wallet, one of the best alternatives to coffee that you should try is lemon water.
Although it doesn’t give as much of an energy boost since it doesn’t have caffeine, it’s a great way to refresh your senses after waking up.
Lemon water is an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants, promotes hydration, and even helps weight loss. Besides lemon, you can also add mint, cucumbers, basil, and honey to your drink, depending on your preferences.
Apple Cider Vinegar.
Another fruity alternative to coffee that can energize you throughout the day is apple cider vinegar. This is made by fermenting crushed apples with yeast and sugar and contains acetic acid.
Acetic acid energizes your body throughout the day by regulating your body’s blood sugar levels and reducing fatigue. In addition, this beverage is also a good source of antioxidants, which helps prevent cancer, heart disease, etc. So if you’re expecting a hard day’s work, an apple cider vinegar a day keeps the stress and doctor away.
Do note that drinking pure apple cider vinegar can damage your teeth. That’s why you should dilute one to two tablespoons of it in a warm mug of water first before drinking.
Chai Tea.
If you’re looking for another tea variant to drink early in the morning or during breaks, why not try chai tea? Also known as masala chai, and is a combination of black tea and potent herbs and spices. These spices include cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.
Since it’s still a type of black tea, chai tea is also caffeinated, though still far less than a cup of coffee. Despite having lower levels of caffeine, it still boosts your mental alertness and energy. In addition, it helps digestion, reduces the risk of heart disease, and aids in controlling your blood sugar levels.
How About a Nice, Warm Cup of…
As the saying goes, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Starting your day with the correct meal and beverage is essential for helping you tackle the day’s work with a clear mind and vigor.
If you want to start your day with an online job, head to Remote Staff. Our jobs list has a wide range of positions available for you to apply to. Good luck!
