Are you addicted to your morning coffee? Do you get a caffeine-related crash around 3pm? Are you looking for coffee alternatives?
If you’re interested in breaking up with your coffee habit for your health (and sanity), Citizen Femme’s fashion editor, Gemma Louise Deeks, explains how she did it.
Pretty much everyone I know is obsessed with coffee. The UK alone drinks around 95 million cups of coffee a day – and I used to contribute to that figure.
But, November 2018 was the last time I had a sip of coffee. I was working a very fast-paced and demanding job at a publishing house, and there was always black coffee on my desk. I was using it as a way to get me through the day, and I was definitely addicted.
After a chance visit to a homeopathic doctor – who advised me to cut out coffee completely – I had to rethink. How was I going to survive?
The thought was incomprehensible at the time. As I began the process of cutting coffee out of my diet, the caffeine withdrawals – headaches, sleepiness, irritability – came. I knew it was time to find coffee alternatives that I could enjoy.
Now a self-confessed matcha latte lover
My real breakthrough came when I discovered matcha – a finely-ground green powder that is made from green tea leaves.
As our beauty editor, Becki Murray explains, “matcha still contains caffeine but it is famed for giving you the caffeine-based energy boost you might crave without the crash. That’s because it also contains a higher amount of an amino acid called L-theanine, which reduces your stress hormones. It’s filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties too, making it an excellent choice when cutting down on coffee.”
I also started to explore other health-boosting coffee alternatives, including those that sound a little more unusual, such as mushroom blends and other plant-based herbs, which are also really worth trying.
Now celebrating six years coffee-free, these are the coffee alternatives I reach for to kick start my day. I feel much better for making the swap.
As mentioned, matcha does contain caffeine, but a lower dose per cup than coffee, at 70mg. This, bound with matcha’s phytonutrients, slows the bodies absorption, allowing you to stay alert for longer. The finely-ground powder is rich in vitamins and is said to regulate blood pressure, promote weight loss, and help prevent disease thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects. I've tried a lot of matcha in my time, but my absolute favourite is the Beauty Matcha Latte from US brand Kroma Wellness. It's deliciously creamy with a slight spice, and unlike anything else I've had thanks to its additional ingredients of ginger and tumeric. I mix mine with frothy hot oat milk in the morning.
Founder Shane created MUD\WTR as a solution to his love of coffee, but hate for the jittery, anxious aftermath. This coffee alternative is made from a blend of cocoa, chai and mushrooms, specifically Lion's Mane, which is believed to have a range of health benefits, both cognitive and physical. With a fraction of the caffeine in coffee, rise Cocoa leans on ayurvedic herbs, nootropics and cocoa to give you natural immune support without having to worry about that dreaded crash. This spiced mushroom and cacao blend was my go-to in the winter, and I recommend buying the Coconut Creamer to go with it. It really made a difference in taste and was a lovely warming morning pick-me-up.
Discovering Maca was a result of an Instagram ad, and the glowing reviews had me curious. Maca is a Peruvian root plant grown in the Andes Mountains and has become very popular for women as a supplement; it's known for potential fertility and libido benefits, and to treat symptoms of menopause. It's also a great ingredient for balancing hormones, as it influences the pituitary gland to stimulate production of hormones at the correct levels for your body. The taste is almost like butterscotch, a sort of earthy, caramel flavour. There is no caffeine in Maca, but it has the same warming effect. I love drinking a hot cup of Maca with oat milk in the evening before bed.
Other coffee alternatives that the CF Team love
Blume Chai Latte
Dirtea Lion’s Mane Powder
JP’s Originals Speciality Teas
Naturya Tumeric Blend
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