By Danielle DeGroot, MS, RDN, LDN
Let me preface this with, I am a coffee lover and I have been without coffee for 5 months now. Insert the single glistening tear down my cheek. However, I have done this for good reason. I have discussed the potential reasons for removing Coffee and Caffeine in another blog article, 5 Reasons To Consider Breaking Up with Caffeine. So I have experimented with several different replacements to fill the void of my little “hug in a mug,” as I so fondly refer to it.
- Tea: Okay, I know… DUH. However, have you really given tea a chance? I mean, Shaman’s drink it so it’s there’s got to be something to it, right? There’s the ever popular Matcha green tea which has bene associated with numerous health benefits, including brain support, liver support and being packed with antioxidants. However, if you’re looking to give up caffeine, this is not necessarily the option for you as green tea contains about 70mg of caffeine in an 8oz cup. For reference, coffee can have anywhere from 70-140mg per 8oz cup. Personally, I have begun incorporating a caffeine free combination of Peppermint and Dandelion tea into my morning routine. We recommend these teas in the initial phase of our Vidal CoachingFlush plan because Dandelion root is very detoxifying and Peppermint is super soothing to the GI tract and may relieve bloating and indigestion. Chamomile is excellent in the evening for rest and sleep support. You may acquire a liking for these teas as is, or you can spice them up a little as you might a coffee. A little oat milk or almond milk go a long way. Add some stevia and cinnamon if you prefer a sweeter variety.
- Adaptogenic Mushroom drinks: Brands such as MUD/WTR and Four Sigmatics have created cocao mushroom blends which have about 1/7th of the caffeine in coffee. Adaptogens are thought to influence the HPA (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal) Axis to modulate our stress response. Different adaptogens provide different associated benefits. I have been using these blends for about 3 months now and really enjoy them! I do prefer to doctor them up though with some oat milk, stevia and cinnamon.
- Cacao powder: As mentioned above, some adaptogenic mushroom blends contain cacao. However, you can make your own blend at home with cacao powder, hot water and any additional spices or adaptogens you may want to add in. Some suggestions for what to add may include, turmeric, ashwagandha, cordyceps, MCT Oil, milk alternative, cinnamon and stevia.
- Attencia: This one’s not a drink, but great supplemental support for someone weaning off of caffeine. This can help make the transition a little less rocky and avoid some symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. Attencia supports cognitive performance and focus through a combination of zinc, essential fatty acids, L-Theanine and a caffeine blend from phytonutrient-rich green coffee bean extract and guarana extract. Grab some Attencia here and use my code DEGROOT5 for 5% off: Vidal Coaching
References:
- Panossian A. Understanding adaptogenic activity: specificity of the pharmacological action of adaptogens and other phytochemicals. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2017 Aug;1401(1):49-64. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13399. Epub 2017 Jun 22. PMID: 28640972.
- Liao, L. Y., He, Y. F., Li, L., Meng, H., Dong, Y. M., Yi, F., & Xiao, P. G. (2018). A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide. Chinese medicine, 13, 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-018-0214-9
