I know what you’re thinking, no coffee?! That’s crazy talk!
Stay with me here, I was once a hard core coffee drinker myself – someone that needed to have their daily morning cup of joe or things just wouldn’t feel right. Heck, sometimes I would even reach for that second or third cup come the 2 o’clock slump and don’t get me started if there were back to back client meetings.
But I have to let you in on a little secret…A relationship with coffee like the one I described above only makes it harder for our bodies to cope with our daily stressors.
In fact, caffeine further stresses us as it encourages the body to switch on our sympathetic nervous system.
This is the state that our bodies are in when responding to a high stress situation (such as running from a lion). When in this state, our pupils dilate, and heart rate and blood pressure increase so that we become more alert. This allows more light into the eyes, more air into the lungs and more oxygen pumping through the body and to the brain.
It’s no coincidence that we see similar responses when we drink coffee. Now, that’s not to say that one should never enjoy a classic cup of coffee but what we want is a healthy relationship with coffee where we are able to truly enjoy that one cup of coffee without needing to rely on it for that morning and/or afternoon energy boost.
It can be tough to ween off of that reliance but trust me, it is possible!
Caffeine further stresses the body as it turns on our sympathetic nervous system.
The goal is to start slow, there’s no need to go cold turkey as that can easily lead to headaches and withdrawal if you’re a regular coffee drinker. So consider trying this:
Often, our attachment to morning caffeine also revolves around the ritual of it all and the habit of having a warm morning drink. I know that is very true for me and just because I no longer have a morning coffee that doesn’t mean I no longer have a morning drink. I’ve just swapped it out for something much more nourishing for my body! Some of my favourite morning coffee replacements include:
Peppermint tea – this can be a really refreshing and revitalizing way to start your day. I especially enjoy a peppermint tea mix like this one as it has a bit more complexity in flavour. Peppermint itself is also great for digestion as it helps to relax the muscles in your gut. It also has anti-bacterial properties which can be great to remove morning breath! Although, steer clear if you suffer from acid reflux as it can make symptoms worse (we would want to address that first).
Chicory & Dandelion based tea – this is a classic coffee substitute blend and it can really stand up well against it’s well known counterpart depending on your mix. Dandelion is a great liver cleanser while chicory is a good source of vitamin B6 and prebiotic fibre (food for the good bacteria in your gut).
Chaga Mushroom tea – this is best brewed as a concentrate so that you can easily pour yourself a nice nourishing cup throughout the week and manage the strength of the flavour depending on your preference. I find this to be a great substitute as it is more robust in flavour. Chaga is known as the “king of medicinal mushrooms” and for good reason! Studies have shown its powerful effects in boosting your immune system. It also acts as an adaptogen, meaning it can adapt to your body and provide support based on what it currently needs.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom tea – this is a type of mushroom that is known to boost focus and concentration without the addictive effects of coffee. I was slightly skeptical when I first tried this but before I knew it I had flown through my to do list and hadn’t looked up in hours! It’s great to add a “caffeine-like” boost to any of the drinks mentioned here or to have on its own, like this.
Rooibos tea – when I was first cutting back my caffeine consumption, I leaned on this tea often as I find it has a stronger, more robust flavour than other herbal teas (it’s yummy with a splash of milk too!). It also offers antioxidants to help fight free radicals in the body and reduce inflammation.
Matcha – this is a noteworthy option although it does contain caffeine, studies show it provides a steadier release of it and gradual tapering rather than a sudden spike and drop. This is likely because it contains L-theanine which counteracts the stress inducing effects of caffeine. Not to mention, it’s also loaded with antioxidants to fight free radicals and inflammation in the body.
Please keep in mind that these are just a few options that I enjoy and is not an inclusive list, there are many other wonderful caffeine-free options out there and cutting back your coffee can open up a whole world of other crave-able morning drinks! I know it can be quite the journey to reduce our caffeine consumption but your body and stress levels will thank you.
Have you tried to make the switch? Let me know what your biggest hurdle is!
Collagen. Have you heard of it? It seems to be cropping up everywhere with claims around skin health, joint health, hair and nail growth and
Are you struggling with the daily discomfort and frustration of perioral dermatitis? If you’re anything like me, then you know that perioral dermatitis is one
Perioral (periorificial) dermatitis is a red rash that circles your mouth. Your skin can be scaly, dry and flaky with swollen, inflamed bumps called papules…Perioral