8 Healthy alternatives to coffee for an energy boost

Perk Me Up: 8 Healthy alternatives to coffee for an energy boost

Angela Goh

13 Mar 2017

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Chai latte
The creaminess of a chai tea latte can very much trick your brain into thinking you’re downing a cup of coffee, which means you’ll feel the same sort of satisfaction. The milky, spiced drink also makes for a soothing beverage, with its strong hints of cinnamon and cardamom. Best of all, you’ll be cutting your caffeine consumption.
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Dandelion root tea
Roasted dandelion root tea is excellent for detoxifying your liver, which, in turn, could aid in weight loss. Serving as a diuretic, dandelion tea will help flush out toxins in your body in a natural way. And with its blood sugar balancing properties, you will feel more energised and less sluggish throughout the day.
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Licorice tea
If you haven’t yet jumped onto the licorice tea bandwagon, allow us to introduce you to this sweet-spicy drink. It is entirely caffeine-free, but supports overwhelmed adrenal glands in order to increase energy and help you cope with stress. It also tastes quite pleasant, and can be found in several different tea blends, especially ones that detoxify the body.
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Green tea
While not completely free of caffeine, green tea contains less of the stimulant than coffee - enough to give you a quick boost without any of the shakes and jitters associated with coffee. And yes, green tea offers plenty of health benefits thanks to its potent source of antioxidants. You’ll be much better off sipping on a mug of refreshing green tea, rather than your daily dose of coffee each day.
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Lemon water
Refreshing and stimulating, lemon water makes for the best kind of wake up call and is best taken in the morning. All you have to do is squeeze the juice of a lemon into a glass of water and you’re all set to detoxify your body. From boosting your immune system with that added dose of vitamin C, to aiding weight loss due to its high alkalinity, lemon water is many times healthier than coffee. We’ve even got a helpful list of 10 reasons you should drink lemon water every morning!
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Ginseng tea
Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement in many parts of Asia, and it is no surprise why. From its stress lowering properties to brain boosting benefits, and even to digestive improvement and boosted immunity, ginseng seems to do it all. Drinking a hot and calming cup of ginseng tea could make for a great alternative to coffee, especially if you are feeling under pressure.
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Wheatgrass juice
Not the tastiest drink in the universe, sure, but this supercharged “green juice” gives you a natural boost of energy, not to mention a good shot of essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. You can buy wheatgrass powder to conveniently create your own wheatgrass juice every morning, and you could even blend some fruit or a protein supplement into the drink to add more flavour.
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Peppermint tea
An instant perk-me-up, peppermint tea doesn’t just revitalise your senses, it can also help with digestion and calm your nerves. As an added bonus, it smells lovely and yes, freshens your breath too!

Think you drink way too much coffee? These alternative beverages are the way to go.

If you’re the type to run on several cups of coffee a day, you’re probably also aware of the fact that caffeine – too much of it – can cause negative side effects, such as sleep interference, feelings of nervousness and restlessness, and could even exacerbate PMS symptoms and cause your hormone levels to fluctuate. Perhaps you’ve considered cutting your daily dose of coffee to a minimum. Well, there’s no better time to do this than right now.

We’ve gathered a list of healthy (and creative) alternatives to coffee to help you lower your intake of caffeine, while at the same time give you the energy boost you so crave. From caffeine-free herbal teas like detoxifying dandelion root tea and brain-boosting ginseng tea – both of which offer grand health benefits that coffee cannot – to delicious substitutes like creamy chai lattes and zesty pick-me-ups like lemon water, you’ll wonder why you’ve never thought to ditch the coffee ages ago.

Head up to the gallery to see exactly what you should be drinking tomorrow morning instead of your usual cup of java! Yes, we’ve given you the low-down on the important health benefits for each alternative as well!

Angela Goh

Photos: Getty Images

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