Ah, the joys of caffeine. If you turn into a morning monster without your daily jolt of coffee, it might be time to reconsider your addiction. You may call it a ritual or a habit, but the facts show that caffeine is highly addictive!
Coffee lovers, listen up—do you get shaky or headachy when you miss your morning cup of joe? A recent study by Johns Hopkins University showed that your coffee withdrawal symptoms could be classified as a mental disorder! Essentially, the more caffeine you chug per day, the stronger your withdrawal symptoms will be, with some people even reporting muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, and even depression.
So, how can you reduce your caffeine intake without giving up your morning beverage? There are a lot of options out there for people who are trying to kick the habit. For instance, green tea is a popular alternative for coffee lovers. Depending on the amount of time that the leaves are infused, green tea has less caffeine than coffee and has a rich, roasted flavor. Many people also don’t realize that herbs, grains, fruit, and nuts can be roasted and brewed just like coffee! Lots of former coffee addicts swear by brewed chicory root, dandelion root, or barley.
Here are our top three coffee substitutes that most people don’ t know about:
Chicory – roasted chicory has been used for hundreds of years to brew a rejuvenating hot beverage that looks a lot like coffee. The root of chicory plant, which is actually similar in appearance to a dandelion, is brewed in the same way as coffee beans. While the taste is strong and can be a bit harsh to some palates, chicory has no caffeine smells like coffee. Since it smells and looks like coffee, you can easily convince yourself that you’re drinking a caffeinated beverage.
Postum – this coffee substitute is made with powdered roasted grains. Since postum is already powdered, the brewing process isn’t necessary. All you have to do is add a spoonful of the powder to hot water, stir, and serve. It dissolves fairly well and tastes a bit like hot cereal.
Teeccino – teeccino has been referred to as “herbal coffee” because it comes in a variety of herbal flavors like vanilla nut and chocolate mint. It can be made from roasted nuts, grain, or fruit, and can be brewed just like coffee.
So, if you just can’t go without your daily caffeine fix, try one of these alternatives and see if you still feel the need to kick back the black stuff.
