Coffee is the regular morning drink for most people. It starts your day with an energy boost, improved mental alertness, and the comfort of warmth. However, it can also cause anxiousness, jitters, palpitations, and digestive distress.
If caffeine affects your physical and mental performance, replace your morning booster with something else. What can be the best coffee alternative to start your day? Here are some suggestions:
Chicory Coffee
Chicory coffee does not come from coffee beans but the roots of chicory, a plant in the dandelion family. The chicory roots are roasted, ground, and brewed much like coffee beans. The resulting hot beverage tastes similar to coffee but without any caffeine.
Chicory coffee is also an excellent source of inulin, a dietary fiber that aids in digestion. Inulin supports gut health by promoting the growth and propagation of beneficial bacteria.
The fiber content in the drink promotes weight loss by regulating appetite and decreasing calorie intake. Also, it can stimulate the production of bile, which is beneficial in the digestion of fat.
Like any other drink, it may cause some issues for some people. The inulin fiber may cause bloating and gas. If you experience digestive distress with its consumption, try other alternatives instead.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is also known as red tea or red bush tea. This coffee alternative is a caffeine-free beverage from the leaves of Aspalathus linearis, a shrub native to South Africa.
Aside from being caffeine-free, rooibos tea provides many health benefits. It contains antioxidants like aspalathin and quercetin.
Aspalathin provides anti-diabetic effects. It can reduce insulin resistance and balance blood sugar levels. If you are at risk of type 2 diabetes, replacing coffee with this drink could prove promising.
It also contains quercetin which can prevent tumor growth and possibly kill cancer cells. Get more of this antioxidant from eating fruits and vegetables.
Hot Chocolate
If you cannot go on without a warm drink in the morning, try hot chocolate as a coffee alternative. Although cocoa contains caffeine, it is significantly lower. You have to drink 12 cups of hot cocoa to match one cup of coffee.
Drinking chocolate enhances brain function and mental alertness. It also improves mood and reduces any symptoms of depression. Drinking it in the morning truly brightens your day.
Bottom Line
Drinking coffee can have unfavorable effects. It can increase irritability and anxiety. It may even cause digestive distress. If you want to have a brighter day ahead, drink your favorite coffee alternative instead.