Coffee Alternatives

Most people drink coffee for the morning pick-me-up, but if you are wanting to cut down on your jitters or just your caffeine intake, you have choices.
• Herbal coffees are an option, such as Teeccino. It contains no caffeine, but it may provide a natural alertness. Its main ingredient is chicory root. People who are trying to give up coffee for health reasons often turn to Teeccino. It tastes a lot like coffee, but a little sweet and smoky. It contains heart-healthy potassium and inulin that helps aid digestion. Teeccino is safe for even kids to drink and comes in a variety of flavors.
• Yerba Mate is made of South American holly tree leaves. You can find it in brands such as Guayaki, which a very environmentally friendly company that is focused on restoring the rain forests. Guayaki has less than half the caffeine of coffee. Its flavor is very herbal. It has high levels of antioxidants and heart-healthy potassium.
• Morning Matcha is made of green-tea leaves ground into powder. It also contains about half the amount of caffeine of coffee. It tastes similar to steeped green tea, but has more of a kick. It has about three times the antioxidants of bagged tea, giving you extra protection from heart disease and cancer. It is pricey, though. One jar, which contains 15-20 servings, costs $33.
photo credit: Chris Owens

Coffee: Pros and Cons

Pros
• Coffee’s antioxidants may reduce cell damage linked to Parkinson’s disease and reduce inflammation that leads to Alzheimer’s.
• Coffee has antibacterial and anti-adhesive qualities, so it may keep bacteria from causing cavities and it could cut your risk of oral cancer in half.
• Premenopausal women who drank 4 or more cups of Java a day had a 38 percent lower risk for breast cancer.
• Two or more cups of coffee a day may reduce the risk of gallstones.
• Two to five cups a day may reduce your risk for skin cancer by up to 17 percent.
• Three to four cups a day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent.

Cons
• Espresso may raise LDL “bad” cholesterol.
• More than 500 mg of caffeine can worsen anxiety by increasing stress hormones and raise blood pressure, a Duke University study found.
• Polyphenols in coffee can block your body’s absorption of iron and calcium.
• Additives such as cream and sugar add lots of empty calories.
• If consumed habitually, it may cause your adrenal glands to be exhausted.
• It contains carcinogens.
• It has been associated with low birth weight, birth defects, miscarriages, premature birth, inability to conceive, and sluggish sperm.
• It irritates the lining of the stomach and can cause digestive disorders.

Just how much caffeine is in your drink?
• 1 cup decaf coffee or tea: 2 mg or more
• 1 cup hot cocoa: 9 mg
• 1 cup green tea: 20 mg
• 12-oz. can Diet Coke: 47 mg
• 1 cup black tea: 47 mg
• 1-oz. shot espresso: 64 mg
• 8.4-oz. can Red Bull: 80 mg
• 1 cup home brewed coffee: 95 mg
• 14-oz. Dunkin’ Donuts hot coffee: 178 mg
• Grande Starbucks Pike Place Roast: 330-500 mg
photo credit: visualpanic