By: Rashi Chaudhary
5 Healthy Alternatives To Caffeinated Drinks
Most of us have demanding lifestyles that constantly keep us on our toes. We need to be alert and attentive at all times, but, plain and simple, that’s hard to do. What do we do to compensate? We turn to drinks like coffee that contain caffeine, a natural stimulant that gives many a much-needed wake-up boost. Unfortunately, many of us also abuse it and incrementally drink more and more until what would have been more than enough the first time doesn’t even make a real difference anymore.
Apart from coffee, we also turn to other caffeinated drinks like soda, energy drinks, and some teas. While consuming some of these like tea isn’t bad in and of itself—others like soda and energy drinks definitely are—their consumption messes with the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain called adenosine, which makes the body feel tired.
In effect, this increases brain activity and makes one feel more active and awake (the reason we turned to those drinks in the first place), BUT we then get an urge to stay in that wakeful state. What do we do then? Drink more of that caffeinated drink that, more often than not, contains a lot more sugar than it should.
It’s not just the sugar that’s bad; while moderate consumption of caffeine doesn’t make a difference, having it in excess can produce very harmful effects on the body like anxiety, high blood pressure, insomnia and, later on, caffeine addiction.
And then we arrive at our topic for today: finding alternatives to coffee that is not only healthier but also more sustainable (and guilt free!) because they come from nature AND provide the energy boost we crave.
5 Healthy Alternatives to Caffeinated Drinks
If you feel a coffee craving coming on, stop right there and think of what you will have learned today. That being said, let’s get started!
1. Fresh Cold-Pressed Juice
As the name suggests, cold-pressed juices are made with cold-pressing technology that takes out the juice from fruits, vegetables, herbs — you name it. With no abrupt cutting or grinding of the food being processed, the machine gently presses them at a low temperature to separate juice from the flesh.
This juice extraction technology is, by far, the best in maintaining nutritional value, as there’s no heat to break down the nutrients. In other words, apart from delivering tasty juice, cold-pressing also supplies the body with a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals, making it one of the healthiest coffee alternatives you’ll come across
Bonus: Whether it’s your home or workplace, the fresh cold-pressed juice is now available on order with easy, anywhere delivery.
2. Green Tea
Green tea is another healthy option that provides powerful antioxidants that prevent cancer and slow aging. Even better for some, it burns fat effectively and improves brain function, physical performance, dental health, and immunity. The best part is that green tea can be taken anywhere, as they’re sold in small and carryable pouches so you can always have some on-hand.
3. Coconut Water
Coconut water is a perfect natural health-drink that’s refreshing, and even contains several nutrients. Its high water content also keeps the body hydrated, making it a perfect natural sports drink that fills up the body with essential electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.
Apart from what’s above, coconut water also soothes the stomach, maintains blood pressure, and supports heart and overall health.
4. Buttermilk
A traditional Indian summer drink, buttermilk is a derivative of the butter extracting process, and a rich source of several micronutrients, making it an important addition to any meal. Buttermilk also provides a lot of energy and hydrates the body in the bargain. For improved taste, cumin seeds, green chili, ginger, and salt can be used, which also help cure stomach discomfort — especially because this drink is a rich source of calcium without fat.
5. Soups
If it’s cold outside and you’re looking for a warm drink, there’s nothing better than a cup of soup. Either made from vegetables or broth-based, soups are rich in nutrition and low in calories, which aid and speed up weight-loss. This is also because a lot of soups are rich in fiber, making them a perfect way to slay hunger and stay full.
Final Thoughts
Our body craves nutrition, but our mind craves caffeine. As it happens to be, the best way to keep it active and energized is to put in as much nutrition as possible. As such, always opt for healthy alternatives like the ones we covered today that’ll keep your energy high while avoiding the pitfalls of caffeine.