Reaching for that morning cup of coffee before interacting with the world is a morning routine that many people share. However, too much of anything can be bad, and while a cup of coffee a day has its benefits, many people return to the coffee pot multiple times a day. For others, coffee can cause headaches and digestive distress, as well as agitation, insomnia, and nervousness due to the high amount of caffeine present.
Maybe you don’t like the taste of coffee, or you are looking to switch up your morning routine. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to coffee to jump-start your day, try out one of these natural coffee alternatives.
Yerba Mate
If you are looking for a way to get the same buzz that you get from coffee, but with added nutrients and antioxidants, you should give Yerba Mate a try. If you just can’t bear to start your day without a cup of joe, switching it up with Yerba Mate could be the coffee replacement you are looking for. Yerba Mate is made from the South American rainforest holly tree, whose naturally caffeinated leaves won’t give you the same “crash” that typically comes with coffee.
Chicory Root
If you are looking for a caffeine-free replacement that tastes similar to coffee, try switching your morning cup of coffee with chicory. Chicory not only tastes nearly identical to coffee, but it also loaded with the prebiotic inulin, which can help support a healthy population of gut flora and aids in digestion. Besides promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, the inulin found in chicory can also stimulate your gallbladder to produce more bile.
Matcha
If you need a boost without the jitters, try a cup of matcha tea. A type of green tea, with matcha you are consuming the whole leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant. Because matcha is comprised of the whole leaf, you get a much more concentrated source of antioxidants compared to brewable green tea. Matcha can be higher in caffeine than regular green tea and can be equivalent to coffee, but it doesn’t bring with it a jittery stimulation or an energy crash. Instead, matcha provides a sense of calm courtesy of the amino acid L-theanine.
Maca
A Peruvian root, maca is an adaptogen that not only helps the body adapt to stress, it also helps boost adrenal function, improves mental focus, and is excellent at reducing fatigue. A common cooking ingredient from Peru, maca root brings with it a range of health benefits. This nutrient-dense root contains phytonutrients that can help boost your energy, mood, and stamina. You can purchase maca in powder form, so it’s easy to add a few scoops to your daily smoothie for a quick pick me up.
