Between early mornings, long workdays, and the stresses of daily life in the modern world, it’s no wonder that most of the population has an unbreakable coffee habit. Whether coffee is really an “addiction” is up for interpretation – does coffee really impact our minds and bodies negatively if we become too dependent on its chemicals? Is there coffee alternative that can help us kick the coffee beans and reboot our health?
If you can’t seem to put down the coffee, it might be time to make the switch so something lighter, less caffeine-heavy, and better for our overall well-being.
Cutting out coffee won’t be easy, but we’re here to guide you through the process. We’ll spell out the steps you need to take, and offer some awesome non-coffee options that won’t put a damper on your mood, productivity, or lifestyle. Let’s get started.
Why Make the Switch from Coffee?
Before we talk about any coffee alternative and its benefits, you might be asking if coffee is even that bad. After all, millions of people enjoy it safely each day, and there’s plenty of medical literature to show its health benefits as well.
The problem with coffee isn’t occasional use, however. It’s the repeated, ongoing consumption of daily coffee that can take its toll on various systems of the body and drain our health over the long term.
Here are just a few things that happen to our bodies with prolonged coffee dependence:
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- Compromised gut and digestive health
- Reduced nutrient absorption from food
- Chronic dehydration and electrolytic deficiency
- Depleted adrenal glands and cortisol buildup
- Inability to attain deep REM sleep at night
- Stained teeth, erosion of enamel, bad breath
- Unstable mood, potential for anxiety
If you’re a long-time coffee drinker, you’ve likely experienced some of these effects, even if you don’t want to admit it! Trust us – when you decide to say sayonara to coffee, all these issues will clear up before you know it, and you’ll be back to peak health in no time.
Not sure whether you should take a break from coffee? We say – why not?
There may be health effects of coffee that you aren’t even noticing, happening subtly in the background while you miss out on optimal performance. Besides, you’ll save some cash, reset your health, and learn some useful stuff along the way.
Steps to Cutting Out Coffee
Ready to take the leap and leave the coffee behind, at least for now? These five steps for coffee alternative will make the process simple, giving you a roadmap to follow with minimal stress and side effects.
Commit to Quit
Removing coffee from your life starts by making the mental commitment to do so.
This is the toughest part for many, because we have so many positive associations with coffee, including productivity, relaxation, friendship, connection, and more.
A big reframe needs to happen here, so start by writing down a list of things that you don’t like about coffee, and why you want to quit. This is how people kick cigarettes and other negative habits, and it works!
Another useful tip is to list out all the things you can look forward to by leaving coffee behind. More health, wealth, and happiness are the big three, but you can get specific with many more.
Reset Your Sleep
So you’ve made the choice to stop drinking coffee, and you can expect some drowsiness in the first few days. Your brain has been hijacked by caffeine for so long that it finally needs some real rest!
Give yourself a weekend to chill out, get some much-needed sleep, and refuel yourself with nutrients you’ve been missing. A full-on sleep reset is beneficial for all aspects of life, and you’ll be glad you did it.
Stay Super Hydrated
Those caffeine withdrawals might cause some fogginess and a slight headache, but truthfully, it’s a lack of hydration that causes many folks to stumble when quitting coffee.
Keep the fresh water flowing, and be sure to include fresh-squeezed lemon and sea salt in the mix as well.
Apple cider vinegar is also an amazing ingredient that replenishes our hydration levels and can fix our gut health after years of coffee drinking. Once you’re finally hydrated for real, you’ll be shocked at how great you feel.
Overhaul Your Health
Letting go of coffee is a great place to begin a total health overhaul, so make this a mission in self care. Finally get back to the gym, cut the excess carbs, and pick up healthy mental habits like reading and meditation.
Coffee is a common “cornerstone” habit that leads us to other unhealthy activities, so cutting it out opens up the door for complete health rejuvenation.
Try Out Top Alternatives
Cold turkey is not the move when it comes to quitting caffeine, so it’s wise to reduce your daily dose with other delicious coffee alternative.
The good news is that we’re in the golden age of herbal teas and magical mixtures that are even better than coffee by nearly every metric. Spend a week or two experimenting with our top recommended beverages and you’ll never crave a coffee again.
Level Up Your Tea Game
The beauty of tea is in its versatility, and you can spend a lifetime learning all the variations.
We suggest starting with black teas like Darjeeling, Assam, and Ceylon to get that caffeine kick at the start of your journey. From there, you can look into lighter white and green teas, plus the endless range of herbal teas to keep sipping into the evening.
While you should avoid refined sugars, don’t fear healthy fats (butter, cream, MCT oil), honey, and natural sweeteners for your teas. These will keep you energized and satiated throughout the day.
The next generation of teas aren’t your Grandma’s grocery store teabags, either.
This MUD/WTR review shows how far coffee alternatives have come, including ingredients like masala chai, organic cacao, and a mix of powerful adaptogenic mushrooms – all in a convenient and quick form.
Life is just better when you don’t need coffee and megadoses of caffeine! Take the leap and try some excellent any coffee alternative today.
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