Are you addicted to coffee?
When I started thinking about my relationship with coffee and caffeine, I realised that it was closely linked to my personality. It’s all about routine and habit-forming. When it comes to your first cuppa in the mornings, think about the whole experience. It’s waking up and taking the dogs out. (Ignoring the dirty dishes) Filling up the kettle, taking out the cup – while noting the things that make up your day. And that’s all before you touch the coffee jar, let alone take your first sip!
It’s a journey, a routine that is not worth disrupting.
It’s safe to say, having your morning coffee is part of your ‘comfort zone’. While there nothing wrong with a so-called safe space, it’s healthy to challenge those boundaries once in a while. Especially if you are dependent on more than 4 cups of coffee a day. That amount of caffeine is way too much! Note: there is around 80 – 100 milligrams per cup.
Just think of your valuable sleep! It takes up to 10 hours for caffeine to completely clear from your bloodstream.
RELATED: 6 Coffee Alternatives You Have to Try
I tried 4 coffee alternatives
Macha (Tea)
Everyone has become a little more obsessed with being healthy and Asian cuisine. Enter: the Macha hype. Do not be fooled by thse macha latte sachets available in many groceries stories. Those often contain milk powder, sugar and traces of macha. Assuming you are here for health reasons, I do not recommend drinking a sugary drink first thing in the morning.
Pure macha is basically green tea gone through a different process when manufacturing, so you still get a dose of caffeine.
Taste Test: But it’s a no from me…doesn’t taste lekker and a sweetener like honey is too expensive.
Rooibos Tea
The humble Rooibos: what a stunning herb! Many people I know actually consider this as a good alternative to coffee.
Can you believe that I have friends who prefer not having coffee in the morning. And will make themselves tea and their partner coffee… madness!
Taste Test: I always feel healthy when I drink it: not sure why. I actually enjoyed this first thing in the morning. It doesn’t pack a punch quiet like a caffeinated cup of coffee. But if I was ever medically forced to drink Rooibos rather than coffee: I would be happy to do it.
RELATED: How to stay hydrated, drink more water in Winter
Golden Milk
Now this is interesting. Golden Milk has received a lot of praise for it’s immune boosting abilities. I thought a good cow’s milk will do the thing but apparently a dairy alternative is better to mix your masala in. The masala; cinnamon, tumeric, ginger and (yes) black pepper is dissolved into hot milk and sweetened with honey.
Remember, it should taste good for you to savour and enjoy it. Adjust the spices to your liking and enjoy.
Taste Test: I used cow’s milk in mine. If we are not counting calories I guess a glass of milk is not a train smash, but I am not willing to substitute my daily chocolate treat for a glass of milk in the mornings. Health and enjoyment in your diet is about balance!
Mixed Berry Smoothie
I would recommend you include some fruit in your diet and if you are not already consuming fruit, a smoothie is an easy way of doing it.
Taste Test: A tasty alternative definitely but I don’t know who thought that fruit could replace coffee…I also have an apple and banana every day, do I now have to drop those as well because fructose from fruit is also sugar… Maybe I am overthinking this but I just want something that is sustainable. Also quality berries are expensive!
In short: I will not be substituting my coffee with anything else. However, I have learned that a cup after 3pm is not optimal for my sleep, and I will (try really hard) not drink more than three cups a day. Let’s start there.
Happy sipping!
