The Best Coffee Substitutes: Healthy Alternatives To Try
There are many reasons you’ll want to start your day with a cup of coffee or reach for one when you get sleepy in the afternoon. The truth is, though, coffee can cause many uncomfortable side effects, like caffeine crashes, headaches and dizziness, or even an increase in stress levels and feelings of anxiety.
If you’re looking for a low impact alternative to coffee that still delivers on great boosts of energy and support for focusing and attention, you have options—and Tenzo Tea is here to help.
We want to make it as smooth and easy as possible to find the right ingredients and information for your overall health and wellness journey, which is why we offer options like the Tenzo Trial Kit, samples, tools, and more!
Explore your coffee alternatives and substitutes and find the best one to fit your needs today.
Why Avoid Coffee?
While coffee is one of the most commonly consumed caffeinated beverages, that doesn’t mean it’s the best. In fact, coffee can come with many uncomfortable side effects that can actually make it difficult to concentrate or be productive. It can also have an impact on your overall health and feeling of wellness or focus.
Here are a few reasons you might want to consider skipping the coffee and finding an alternative or substitute.
Coffee Can Cause Caffeine Crashes
Have you ever enjoyed a cup of coffee, only to find that you were struggling to stay awake or focused just a few minutes later? Coffee is known for causing caffeine crashes that can actually end up leaving you more tired than you were before your first cup. Consider a gentler alternative that won’t leave you feeling like you’re riding a rollercoaster.
Coffee Can Add to Stress and Anxiety
The same feelings of up and down that can cause caffeine crashes can actually lead to an increased sense of stress and anxiety. You may get that boost of energy, but that doesn’t mean it’s productive. In fact, you might end up feeling jittery or overwhelmed when you most need to focus on that new project or next big assignment.
Coffee is especially known for worsening symptoms of anxiety in individuals who already have it or are already feeling stressed, but it can even cause those feelings in people who normally don’t have them.
Coffee Can Cause Discomfort
If you’ve ever found yourself getting a headache or a stomach ache after you consume coffee, you’re not alone. Coffee is actually known for causing or worsening headaches. It does this by putting pressure on the nerves close to your brain. Stomach aches from coffee come from an imbalance of stomach acids, an increase in stress and anxiety, and even a lack of food.
Coffee Can Make it Difficult to Sleep
Most caffeinated beverages can have some impact on your sleep schedule, but coffee is one of the most extreme. Because it can cause jitteriness and anxiety and because the energy often isn’t productive, you may find that you’re struggling to fall asleep, even if you consumed the coffee much earlier in the day. Proper rest is one of the most essential steps you can take to keep your body healthy and your mind focused, so you’ll want to avoid any products that make it difficult to get the rest you deserve.
Healthy Alternatives
If you consume coffee every day, don’t worry! You have many healthy alternatives and substitutes to consider if you’re looking for a low-impact boost without the side effects. Here are just a few that you won’t want to miss.
Chicory Coffee
Chicory coffee is an excellent option if you love the taste of coffee, but you’re looking to avoid the heavy caffeine content and its associated side effects. It’s made with chicory root, which produces a similar flavor profile to coffee, but it isn’t caffeinated. It is known for considerable health benefits, including a boost in digestive health and a reduction in inflammation.
It’s important to note that chicory coffee is a member of the dandelion family, and individuals who are prone to seasonal allergies or allergies to ragweed or pollen, should find another coffee alternative.
Mushroom Coffee
Mushroom coffee is another coffee substitute that delivers on coffee flavors without the side effects. Unlike chicory coffee, it actually does have caffeine, but only about half as much as a traditional cup of coffee.
Mushroom coffee is made by blending mushroom extracts with instant coffee, which helps to provide essential nutrients and benefits. In fact, mushroom coffee is known for boosting energy level and focus, providing better sleep and rest, managing anxiety, and relaxing sore muscles and inflammation. It has even been shown to support memory.
Kombucha
Kombucha is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s not difficult to see why. It has actually been around for thousands of years, and is made by fermenting black or green tea with sugar and yeast. Kombucha provides many of the excellent benefits that you’ll find in green teas and black teas, while also offering up digestive and probiotic support.
It can vary in caffeine content depending on what kind of tea was used for the base, and there are many different flavors of kombucha, including fruits and spices.
Tea
You can’t go wrong with tea. Not only is tea a much gentler alternative to coffee, but because there are so many different flavors and types of tea, you can always find the best kind to fit your overall health and energy needs. Black tea has the highest caffeine content and green tea is next. White tea can also vary significantly in caffeine content but is usually much lower than the other two, and herbal tea has no caffeine at all.
Tea can be used for a lot more than just keeping you feeling alert and focused. It can support digestive health and reduce nausea, help you to get a good night’s sleep, or even reduce inflammation.
Matcha Tea
Matcha is a type of green tea that is harvested young and mixed into hot water as a powder, rather than steeped like traditional tea. There are many reasons you’ll want to replace your coffee with matcha tea. Here are a few of the most important ones:
Fewer Side Effects: Matcha tea can provide a lot of the excellent energy boost and focusing benefits that coffee can, but it does so without the intense side effects. You won’t have to worry about headaches, stomach pains, or even difficulty sleeping when you swap your coffee for matcha tea.
Less Anxiety: Matcha is a much gentler alternative to coffee. It derives much of its energy boosting support from its vitamins and antioxidants, so you won’t feel that same kind of jittery energy that is often associated with caffeine. If you are managing anxiety in the long-term or even over an upcoming event or project, matcha is a low-impact alternative that will help to keep you calm and focused.
There is No Crash: Matcha lasts longer and impacts your body more slowly, which means you won’t have to be concerned about caffeine crashes, so you can stay focused and energized all day long.
It Comes With Health Benefits: Beyond low-impact energy support, matcha tea also comes with lots of great health benefits. It can help to support your immune system and it’s rich in antioxidants which contribute to overall health and wellness. Matcha tea is even known for supporting oral health and preventing conditions like periodontal disease.
It’s Versatile: You don’t just have to drink your matcha tea. Matcha powder can be used in many delicious recipes, whether you want to mix it into your morning oatmeal or whip up vegan fruit tartlets. Explore the many food and drink options to find your favorites.
In Summary
When it comes to finding energy boosting drinks that can help to focus and improve your body’s health, you have options beyond the morning coffee. Coffee can cause uncomfortable side effects, make it difficult to sleep, and even increase feelings of anxiety. That’s why you’ll want to consider substitutions like mushroom coffee, kombucha, or tea.
When it comes to tea, matcha green tea is the best alternative for your next cup of coffee. It has fewer side effects, is better for your overall health and wellness, and has even been shown to reduce feelings of stress or anxiety. And high-quality, antioxidant-rich matcha tea is available right here at Tenzo Tea, your resource for coffee alternatives that provide energy and focus, without the crash.
Explore your matcha options and begin adding matcha tea to your morning routine today!
Sources:
https://www.thehealthy.com/nutrition/drinking-too-much-coffee/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea
