One of the most popularly consumed beverages in the world is coffee. Many of us begin our days with a steaming cup. It is a stimulating drink that goes well with various breakfast accompaniments. There are many types of coffee available today. Examples of these are latte, cappucino and mocha. Everybody has their favorite type of coffee. Despite its stimulating effects that help to wake us up in the morning, coffee causes a crash in energy levels once the benefits of caffeine have worn off. This crash normally feels very bad and prompts a desperate search for more coffee. This can lead to an unhealthy consumption of this beverage and sugar. To avoid this, you can consume something different so as to avoid this predicament. Here are the top 10 healthier alternatives to coffee.
Kombucha tea
This is an organic drink that is not known by many. Despite being rare and unpromoted, Kombucha Tea has a wide variety of benefits. Essentially, Kombucha is a type of yeast that you can ferment. Simply add it to tea, include some sugar and any other flavors that you enjoy to create Kombucha tea. The beverage is well known to treat the loss of memory, prevent cancer, eliminate high blood pressure and regulate bowel movement. As such, it is a healthy and beneficial alternative to coffee.
Lemon water
One of the simplest beverages to prepare is lemon water. It is an ideal source of energy, nutrition and hydration. To make lemon water, simply mix water, lemon zest and lemon juice. For a perfect combination, add the juice from half a lemon and a teaspoon of zest to the water. It will give you energy, vitamin C and keep you alert from morning to afternoon with no crash. Hence, it is a great alternative to coffee. What's more, fitness enthusiasts have indicated that lemon water helps to hydrate the body and maintain high levels of energy during a workout. Hence, it is a perfect breakfast beverage for those who enjoy working out in the morning.
Yerba Mate
This is a unique beverage that is made from the leaves of the holly tree located in the South American rainforest. This beverage gives you the same benefits that coffee does without the crash. Yerba Mate is also full of health-promoting nutrients and can be prepared in many ways. You can prepare it cold, hot, in a French press, in a coffee machine, with some honey or in a tea infuser. As such, it is a versatile morning beverage.
Chai
This is a beverage that is native to India. It is made using enriched black tea, milk and a collection of spices too. Examples of these spices are ginger, cinnamon and cardamom. Chai does not have any caffeine content, hence does not have a crash later in the day. Moreover, it has a creamy, smooth flavor reminiscent of latte coffee. As such, you can trick yourself into believing you are consuming coffee as you down a cupful of Chai in the morning.
Priobiotic beverages
One of the emerging health trends today is probiotic drinks. These are beverages that have active cultures of probiotics. These are essentially beneficial bacteria. Our bodies normally have a collection of bacteria within them. These are friendly organisms that help with digestion. When the amount of friendly bacteria is low, we experience digestive disorders. This can be caused by consuming antibiotics. Probiotic drinks restore this balance and with it, perfect digestive health. They are a healthy, tasty alternative to coffee.
Wheatgrass juice
Wheatgrass is known for its nutritious nature. Its juice is an energizing drink that you can consume to get a shot of minerals, vitamins and nutrients first thing in the morning. Wheatgrass juice is easy to digest. As a result, you are immediately nourished after consuming it. As such, it is perfect for consuming as an alternative to coffee.
Coconut Water
Many of us are familiar with coconuts. These are the hard-shelled fruits commonly found along the coast. However, not many of us have ever consumed coconut water. This is a clear, milky fluid which comes from the young, green coconuts. It is sweet naturally, has bioactive enzymes within it and contains electrolytes that are capable of rehydrating us on consumption. As such, you can drink some coconut water to boost your energy first thing in the morning instead of coffee.
Tea
This a beverage that is already present in many offices and homes around the world. It is a healthy, tasty alternative to coffee. There are many types of tea. Examples of these are black, herbal, green and flavored tea. Many of these are free of caffeine and naturally sweet. Therefore, you may not even have to add any sugar. Full of antioxidants, minerals and B vitamins, tea is a great alternative to coffee.
Nut smoothies
Nuts contain large amounts of fiber and protein. As such, they are great to consume as a snack. However, they can also be made into a delicious smoothie. Angela Pifer is a nutritionist and she encourages the creation of smoothies using nuts. Simply combine cashew milk, nut butter, and protein powder to make a healthy nut smoothie for your breakfast. She counsels that if you consume this smoothie in the morning instead of coffee, you will not experience the 3:00pm slump. This is because the nuts keep your energy levels high throughout the day.
Fruit smoothie
Fruit is known to contain fructose sugar. This is a healthy source of energy for you. Hence fruit smoothies are an amazing alternative to coffee in the morning. Simply combine some orange juice, a banana, frozen berries, low fat yogurt and a handful of chopped kale or spinach. Blend them into a smoothie and enjoy the vitamins and energy flowing into your body. With no crash emerging later in the day, a fruit smoothie is perfect for breakfast.
The Important Take Away
Coffee has been accepted as part of breakfast today. An effective morning stimulant, it is ideal for waking you up. However, once the caffeine wears out, you experience an unpleasant crash. The beverages indicated above are great alternatives to coffee. They are healthy and easy to prepare. Try them out and experience the healthy benefits.
