With January past, many of us will have let our new year resolutions slide. You might have lost the motivation to go to your regular CrossFit class, or perhaps it is getting harder to walk to work in the cold winter mornings. If it is caffeine you have given up, then there are ways you can continue to avoid it.
Whether you are just reducing your caffeine intake, or cutting it out entirely, the health benefits are significant. It might take some time to get used to, but cutting out caffeine will have major benefits for your sleep pattern, your tooth enamel, and your skin.
Improve Sleep Patterns
It is normal to feel tired and grouchy after going for a few days without coffee. If you drink more than five cups of coffee a day you will almost certainly get headaches from the caffeine withdrawal. It will take some getting used to, but you will see a huge improvement in your sleep patterns as you get used to going about your daily routine sans caffeine. If you are working on reducing your coffee or tea intake, and want to have a good night’s sleep, make sure to not drink any caffeine after midday as it will take at least six hours for the caffeine to clear your system.
Protect Teeth
You can spend hundreds of dollars on teeth whitening products only to throw it down the toilet by drinking coffee, black tea, and soda. Soda is not only bad for you due to the sweeteners and colors, but also the acidity. Coffee is highly acidic and over time it will erode your tooth enamel. If you are struggling to motivate yourself to eliminate caffeine then think about how you will be avoiding the damage to your enamel. Coffee and tea also contain tannins that stain teeth. Cut these caffeine sources out and think how pearly white your teeth will be!
Healthier Skin
We don’t often think about how what we drink affects our skin. By limiting, or eliminating, caffeine, we can have healthier skin. Caffeine adds to stress which can lead to breakouts. Not too mention the effect it has on your gut biome. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that a healthier gut leads to healthier skin – and a healthier you overall. It seems the coffee is not necessarily itself harmful to the skin, but the sugar and other additions cause more of the issues. This may seem confusing, but coffee or tea as an ingredient in skin care products is beneficial. So, cut your caffeine from what you drink, but go ahead and apply it to your face.
Caffeine-free alternatives
Instead of feeling like you have to give up coffee, think of it as an exciting opportunity to try out other drinks in its place. If you are concerned that you will not have the same energy as you do with coffee, there are some excellent drink alternatives that will provide you with a small boost.
Maca
This alternative energy booster, often consumed in a beverage, comes to us from Peru. It is in the Brassica family, most closely related to a turnip. You can find it in dehydrated powder form – add it to smoothies or energy bites. It is also available in a nearly tasteless extract so that you can add the liquid to your favorite herbal tea. Capsules and chips are other forms, but an even easier alternative is Morning Motivator blend. This mix of maca powder, raw cacao, and raw mezquite is good on its own (just add water or milk) or with your favorite protein powder (and MCT oil and . . .). Who needs bullet-proof coffee?
Matcha
You might have heard of matcha, or seen the pastel green tea in popular coffee shops. The interesting thing about matcha is that, while it does contain some caffeine it will not give you the jittery feeling that coffee does. Rather it will give you a clean high that doesn’t leave you crashing. Additionally, matcha will also not stain your teeth like coffee or tea. If you fancy trying to make it at home try this easy homemade matcha latte recipe which you can enjoy by itself or with milk alternatives.
Mate
Mate tea is another popular alternative to coffee, as it provides you with an energy boost without the negative side effects. Mate is a South American herb drink known as ‘yerba mate’ which is gaining worldwide popularity. Yerba mate does contain caffeine but reportedly provides a feeling of alertness rather than the jittery feeling from coffee. It is also worth noting that mate is high in antioxidants.
What is your favorite caffeine source? Have you eliminated caffeine? What alternatives to caffeine do you consume?