Breaking a caffeine habit can be a touchy subject as most adults these days are proud addicts of the stuff.
However, caffeine can actually have a negative impact on your energy levels as it affects your quality of sleep and hydration. Not to mention the big low that is often followed by the temporary high we so long for.
Luckily, there are plenty of healthy and natural alternatives to coffee that still give your body some extra oomph but in a more gradual and paced way that doesn’t leave you feeling exhausted and needing more.
Here are 7 alternatives you can turn to if you’re ready to quit the caffeine.
Turmeric
These days turmeric can be found in many forms, whether it be chocolate, tea, latte, capsules, oil or face mask, just to name a few. You might have already caught onto the fact from seeing it everywhere that turmeric is good for you.
What you may not know is that one of its many benefits includes giving you more energy. This is because turmeric actually boosts the level of growth hormone in your body, helping your mind to concentrate on what you’re doing more easily.
Having it in a latte form also makes it a great replacement for your morning cup of coffee, since it’s another warm milky beverage.
Apple cider vinegar
This acidic concoction, most recently part of a popular weight-loss fad, also has the added benefit of giving you an extra boost of energy.
Because it contains both potassium and enzymes (providing your body with electrolytes), as well as amino acids (reducing lactic acid build-up and muscle tiredness), this is an easy energy solution that you can either drink as a shot or simply add a few drops to your water or tea before work or exercise, or whenever you feel tired.
Cacao
Although cacao can be seen as unhealthy due to it being connected with chocolate, pure cacao actually has many health benefits and isn’t actually bad for you (within moderation, don’t be putting this on every meal).
It makes for a great caffeine replacement as it contains an alkaloid called Theobromine which acts as a heart stimulant, producing a much more subtle and long-lasting experience compared to coffee.
Similar to turmeric, it can be an easy substitute for a morning coffee as you can swap it for a morning hot chocolate instead (note: milo doesn’t count).
Apples
Sugar might have a bad rep by now, but not all sugars are bad. In fact, sugar is an essential part of our diet, especially when it comes to our energy levels. Natural sugars, such as the ones found in apples, raise our glucose levels and work with the vitamins and other good stuff in the apple to give us energy. Add some almond butter on top for some extra nutritional goodness.
Spirulina
There’s a reason that spirulina has been called the ‘food of the future’. It helps with the production of Vitamin B6 as well as the absorption of fats and other elements, therefore improving energy release.
If you’re tired from being iron-deficient, Spirulina is a great natural supplement to have.
It’s not going to taste the best whether you add it to your smoothie or swallow it in pill form, but the advantages will far outweigh the strong taste. It’s a good idea to start with small dosages at the start until you get more used to it.
Coconut water
We all know that being dehydrated can put you in a head fog and cause you to feel tired and just all-round gross. Because coconut water is so hydrating, this means that it gives your body new life. It also replaces any lost electrolytes you’ve lost post-workout. Definitely worth adding to your morning smoothie if you haven’t already.
Rhodiola
Originated from the cold depths of Northern Europe, this powerful root was originally used by ancient cultures to bring vitality and prolong life.
In more recent times, this ancient practice has been backed up by studies that have shown that it does really have the ability to up your energy levels and put you in a better, more relaxed mood.
It does this by balancing out the chemicals in your brain and creating a subtle increase in the feel-good chemicals, such as serotonin.
It’s not going to taste the best whether you add it to your smoothie or swallow it in pill form, but the advantages will far outweigh the strong taste. It’s a good idea to start with small dosages at the start until you get more used to it.
Author – Madeleine Goodman
With a background in Sales and Psychology, Maddy combines her knowledge & love of words to bring us all of the things we need to know on how to survive modern day working life. She currently works as the in-house writer at deskPlex.
