How to Get Energy Without Caffeine
Let’s face it, we all love a bit of caffeine every now and again. It’s a great energy source and can be just what you need to give you a boost when you’re feeling a little exhausted after a bad night’s sleep.
It’s important to remember, though, that caffeine isn’t the only option when it comes to energy sources. In this post we’ll talk you through the good and the bad of caffeine, as well as some alternative sources to consider if you’re a little sensitive to caffeine.
Caffeine: The Good and the Bad
There are pros and cons to drinking caffeine, there’s no doubt about it. But as it can be very beneficial to reduce your caffeine intake, it’s important to consider whether the good outweighs the bad of caffeine. Here I’ll take you through some of the pros and cons of caffeine to help you make an informed choice!
Pros:
Caffeine can increase our alertness and mental energy. It is a stimulant, meaning it can help to boost our attention levels, which can be super helpful.
Small doses of caffeine can help ward off headaches. This is because caffeine helps blood vessels to narrow and restricts blood flow somewhat, i.e., it has the counter effect to what happens when we get a headache, as this is when our blood vessels tend to enlarge.
Caffeine can help to stimulate bowel movements. This means that if you suffer from constipation, according to some studies, consuming caffeine can sometimes help as it stimulates the movement of your colon muscles, thus encouraging bowel movements.
Cons:
Caffeine can cause sleeping problems. If you consume caffeine in large quantities, or you consume it too late in the day, it can lead to sleeping problems such as insomnia and daytime tiredness.
Caffeine can ruin your teeth. Drinking too much coffee or tea can stain your teeth, leaving them yellow or brown. The sugar that is in a lot of caffeinated drinks can also have a detrimental effect, as it is likely to cause cavities if consumed in high quantities.
Caffeine can affect your blood pressure levels. In some people, large amounts of caffeine cause raised blood pressure levels, which can be incredibly dangerous. Your heart rate can also be affected by caffeine.
Alternative Energy Sources
Now, if you’ve decided it’s time to take a step back from the caffeine, then you’re probably wondering what you can replace it with. If you’re a big coffee drinker, then you’re likely to be getting around 95mg of caffeine per cup, so just cutting it out completely can cause withdrawal symptoms including headaches and irritability, among other things. Incorporating some of these alternative energy sources into your diet can help you to slowly pull away from high levels of caffeine, though, so don’t worry!
Black Tea: Contains around 47mg of caffeine per cup. This is the perfect drink to start your transition from coffee, as it still contains a reasonable amount of caffeine!
Green Tea: Contains around 28mg of caffeine per cup, making it a great next step down after you’re used to black tea!
Kombucha: Some kombucha drinks contain no caffeine at all, while others contain around 14mg. As an added bonus, their probiotic content also helps digestion!
Botanical Blends: Drinks such as moringa tea and maca powder are thought to boost your energy without giving you a crazy caffeine rush, so they’re a great alternative to coffee.
Whichever alternative you choose, make sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water, too, as this can help to ward off some of the withdrawal symptoms you might be feeling!
