If you’re not a coffee fan, or if you’re trying to give it up or just change it up for some reason, NewsBytes suggests five drinks you can substitute for the coffee. Three of them are teas, but all three have a different taste appeal, and they may even offer some health benefits. The coffee substitute list includes green, ginger and chamomile teas, along with coconut water and plain water with a bit of lemon.
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1. Green tea has potent antioxidants, and has been shown to improve brain function and to help stave off cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Green tea also can help fight arthritis and even aid in combating several cancers.
One of the most interesting paradoxes regarding tea, especially matcha green tea, is that it can soothe, calm and relax you while simultaneously intensifying your alertness. In China and India, people drink green tea to get rid of excess bodily fluid, control bleeding, heal wounds and improve their heart health. Green tea is also used to regulate blood sugar levels, improve mental clarity and promote digestion.
2. Ginger tea is an ancient solution to many common ailments, from working to reduce nausea and promote stomach health to helping to manage inflammation and strengthening the immune system. Ginger is caffeine-free and full of nutrients that address other health issues, such as cardiovascular circulation and brain function.
Ginger tea may also help relieve inflammation related to the respiratory system, such as asthma, allowing you to breathe better. It’s easy to make ginger tea from scratch, too, with filtered water and just 2 inches of raw ginger.
3. Chamomile tea has an ancient history, too, as a therapeutic for managing inflammation, but also as a sleep aid. One relatively unknown benefit of chamomile, however, is that a study published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation showed that Type 2 diabetics who consumed chamomile tea regularly experienced decreased concentration of HbA1C serum insulin levels.
Another study showed that the epigenin in this tea may help protect against thyroid cancer.
4. Coconut water is a popular beverage, even if you don’t give up coffee. Dubbed “Mother Nature’s sports drink,” it’s a refreshing drink to enjoy at any time of day and is a virtual powerhouse of natural electrolytes.
It provides numerous benefits in the form of cytokinins, a class of phytohormones that boast antiaging, antithrombotic and anticarcinogenic properties, and contains B vitamins and minerals that can offer cardioprotective effects, as well as hydration benefits.
Be careful, though — don’t confuse coconut water with coconut milk. Coconut water is the raw, clear liquid you get when you open a fresh coconut that develops naturally in the fruit.
Coconut milk is a manufactured product, made by grating the coconut milk, adding water and squeezing out the juice. This results in a white and creamy liquid, not too different from dairy milk.
5. Plain water and lemon are always a good choice, no matter the time of day, and the good news is you can enjoy this refreshing drink both hot and cold. Whether you’re looking for a pick-me-up or a sip of something with a bit of flavor to it, nothing beats pure clean water.
Did you know that water is also the best choice for hydration before and after exercise, whether you add lemon or not? In fact, sports medicine specialists at Penn State University suggest most children would benefit more from drinking water than bottled sports drinks during athletic events.
They say most young athletes do not sustain sufficient intensity or duration of exercise to merit the extra salt and sugar contained in sports drinks. The important thing to remember is to make sure you drink only pure, filtered water that has no contaminants and no fluoride.