Have you ever thought about
giving up coffee, or wondered if you are addicted? Many of my nutrition
clients, once they become more aware of how nutrition is affecting
them, both mentally and physically, decide to cut back or eliminate coffee
from their daily regimen. Sometimes this is done for just a while, to detox
and wain off the addiction, and other times it is done as a part of a
permanent change in their daily nutrition habits. Learning some basic
tools and turning to healthful alternatives to coffee can make this
process pleasant and a lot easier, especially in the beginning when
withdrawal from the caffeine and sugar in coffee drinks can be
daunting.
People who wish to clean up their diets, but who consume a
lot of caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and refined carbohydrates, and those
who have the highest toxic load, tend to have the most difficulty
giving certain things up. When you add the psychology that
many people have around “the morning coffee ritual” or
“needing that daily cup (or five) of coffee,” many people just
shy away from the idea altogether, and choose to keep the coffee habit
going. The great news is that symptoms of withdrawal usually disappear
after three or four days. If you haven’t ever tried giving up or cutting
back on coffee, and would like to give it a try, here are some tips to help
you out along the way.
Tips for Managing Coffee Withdrawal
1) Make sure you drink at least six to eight glasses of filtered
water daily. Instead of coffee in the morning, take some warm water with
freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
2) To prevent headaches, make sure your bowel movements are
regular.
3) If you are tired, allow more time for sleep.
4) Boost your vitamin C by eating more green apples, citrus,
dark leafy greens, and berries.
5) Make sure you exercise daily to help boost your metabolism and
fight off fatigue. Get at least 30 minutes a day in, even if it is just
walking the dog, parking away from work and walking, using stairs instead of
elevators, or bicycling to do your errands. Keep a daily physical routine in
place.
6) You may not even be aware that sometimes you are substituting
coffee for food. When you are hungry make sure to eat and do not let your
blood sugar get low. Use your snack hack the way it was intended. Have some
protein in the afternoon such as a handful of nuts or seeds like almonds,
pecans, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds, cooked beans, nutrition bar, or a prepared
healthy snack.
7) If you’re irritable or have trouble sleeping, drink some sleep
supporting herbal tea or a supplement that supports melatonin like this
Apothecherry
tart cherry juice. I love a tablespoon of this in a cup of sleep
supporting tea at bedtime.
8) If withdrawals are making you feel tired, go ahead and pause
and rest. Let your body adjust. It may want to sleep and “check out” as part
of the detoxification process. If you allow your body to run it’s process,
you will overcome the withdrawals more quickly and easily in the
end.
9) If you aren’t already doing so, try a safe nutritional
cleanse or diet clean up like the 12-Day
Detox (whole food based) or the 10-Day
Transformation Cleanse (product based). This would be a natural,
gentle, and safe way to cleanse out toxins so your body can run efficiently
on its own energy.
10) Consider creating a healthier morning ritual by substituting
your coffee with a better alternative. Here is a list to get you
started:
Awesome Alternatives to Coffee You Can Try Any
Time
- Teeccino Caffeine-free Herbal
Coffee: This coffee alternative is popular among those
who have removed regular coffee from their diets because it tastes very
similar to coffee but is caffeine free. It is a mix of carob, barley, chicory
nuts and other flavors (there are all kinds of varieties) - Yerbe Mate: If you’re not
necessarily seeking a coffee taste, this herbal tea with numerous health
benefits is a great choice. Not only does Yerbe Mate taste great hot or cold
but it has powerful antioxidant properties, and it can also accelerate weight
loss as it revs up the metabolism. - Green Tea: Green tea has less
caffeine than a cup of coffee but enough to give you a boost without any of
the coffee jitters. - Licorice Tea: Licorice tea is
actually caffeine-free, but supports overburdened adrenal glands, which are
organs that respond to stress. - Wheatgrass Juice: This natural
energizer is known as a liquid shot of essential vitamins, minerals, and
nutrients. Some people don’t mind the taste and others do, but all agree that
wheatgrass is one of the most nourishing juices. - Matcha or Turmeric Latte: If
you crave the creaminess of a latter or cappuccino, try making a latte out of
matcha power or a Turmeric
Spice Blend, mixed with a healthy dairy-free milk. This is a great
healthy alternative and also packs nutrition so you can make a snack out
of it as well. - Reishi Mushroom Tea: If you’re
looking for a unique coffee alternative, try mushrooms in the form of tea. A
staple in traditionalChinese medicine, the soft, flat reishi mushroom makes
for one invigorating (and healthy) libation. There are many reishi
mushroom tea products on the market. - Rooibos Tea: Rooibos is another
full-flavored tea that can be mixed with any kind of milk and has plenty of
flavor all on its own as well. It’s a refreshing pick me up and some health
experts say it has immune-boosting properties.
I know giving up coffee can be difficult, but your body and mind
will thank you and you should feel awesome and empowered for
overcoming this habit. The sense of calm, clarity and restful sleep will
reward you with the simple pleasures of balanced health and energy that your
body produces on its own.
Do you have a favorite healthy coffee substitute or tip to stay
away from coffee addiction? Feel free to share with us in the
comments. Thanks for reading!
Sources: http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/10-reasons-to-quit-coffee-plus-healthy-alternatives
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/quit-coffee_b_1598108.html