Do you get anxious and jittery when you drink coffee? Maybe it doesn’t fair well with your digestive system, you’re tired of buying countless whitening strips, or you just don’t like the taste of coffee but need the energy to get through the day. This post will shed some light on a variety of healthy drinks that you can substitute your coffee with.
Matcha
Matcha is making its mark on the world recently. It seems like everyone is testing it out, and if you haven’t tried it yet – get on board! Matcha is traditional Japanese powdered green tea. It contains 25-70 mg of caffeine per serving, but it’s different from coffee because the caffeine is naturally derived from green tea leaves. Usually when tea is made leaves are steeped in hot water, but matcha is made by turning whole leaves into powder. This creates a stronger more nutrient-rich drink that contains antioxidants. Matcha can be a great substitute for coffee because of the anxiety and jitters most people receive from coffee. Matcha contains l-theanine which has been shown to enhance focus, attention, and memory and reduce anxiety. People have explained that matcha gives them an “alert calm”. You won’t have to experience the anxiety and mid-day crash anymore with matcha.
Black Tea
Black tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. It’s left to oxidize before being processed which leaves the dark brown color and distinct flavor. Black tea is prepared in many different ways, but the flavor is profoundly earthy and smoky. It originated in China but was the first type of tea introduced to Europe and the Middle East. Black tea contains 50-90 mg of caffeine for serving. The most common black teas that you may have heard of are english breakfast, earl gray, ceylon, and darjeeling. It can enhance alertness, boost heart health, help gut health, and contains rich antioxidants. There are thousands of ways to prepare black tea, so look up what sounds best to you and pour a cup of tea!
Chai Tea
Chai tea has become a staple in the U.S., but it’s a traditional drink in India. Chai means “tea” in Hindi, so when we say chai tea, we’re saying “tea tea”. Chai tea is a milky drink that contains a blend of herbs and spices predominately containing flavors of cinnamon and cardamom. The base is usually made of black tea, which you read about above. It contains 25-55 mg of caffeine per serving. Chai tea is found to enhance energy and alertness along with being rich in antioxidants and reducing inflammation. Try starting your day off with a creamy cinnamon beverage to spice up your routine.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a fermented drink that contains tea, sugar, yeast, and bacteria. I know what you’re thinking – why would I want to willingly add bacteria into my diet? Kombucha contains healthy bacteria called probiotics. When consumed they can help restore your gut health. Your gut health affects your mood, immune system, brain health, and a handful of other problems that you might not know were affected by the health of your gut. Kombucha contains 10-20 mg of caffeine per serving. This is definitely lower caffeine content than other options, but kombucha isn’t just about the energy. As I mentioned before it has huge benefits for your gut health, but also enhances your immune system and reduces inflammation. There are a variety of kombucha flavors to choose from, so pick one up at your local grocery store and give it a try!
