Take a coffee break or have a coffee “break up”?
You love your coffee, the smell, the taste, the routine and it’s become part of your life .In fact you can’t imagine life without it.
However, you are starting to notice that you are relying on it to wake you up in the morning and keep you going in the afternoon.
You don’t know how you can get through your day without coffee.
You are starting to feel more jittery, and you have read that coffee can be bad for you as it releases stress hormones and you are quite stressed already.
You are starting to worry about what can you do to keep you on top of your game if you “break up” completely with coffee.
You feel you are running out of options.
Firstly, don’t panic, there are other ways to help you to keep focused and alert. In this blog post, you’ll discover some of the plants that could support your concentration and energy levels without a regular caffeine hit.
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Coffee isn’t necessarily bad for you
Let’s get this out of the way first. Coffee isn’t necessarily bad for you. There’s great science out there showing that it can keep our minds more sharp later into life as well as reducing the risk to some other illnesses such as dementia and Parkinsons’. As coffee is a stimulant, it can increase your energy levels too.
However …
Here’s the other side
If you are sensitive to caffeine … It can leave you feeling jittery during the day and hyped up at night unable to sleep. Not ideal if you have persistent or chronic fatigue.
Stress - If already have stress in your life (most of us do) and managing it is a challenge for you, coffee can make it worse because it causes the release of stress hormones.
If you are female, the stress can contribute to PMS symptoms, worsening hot flushes and blood sugar levels to drop.
Anxiety, fatigue and the jitters - coffee gives you a high (as it’s a stimulant), which is then followed by a drop off, and that can leave you feeling groggier than before. Then you reach for another coffee. And here comes the anxiety, fatigue and jitters.
Take a coffee break?
You may know this already, but you are reluctant to give it up.
It’s become part of your life, it’s become a habit - you pick up a coffee on the way to work, make a coffee to wake you up in the morning, have a coffee break to give yourself a breather.
It’s become part of who you are.
You worry what will keep you going if you ditch the coffee.
What if I said – keep the ritual, but modify it a little.
How does that sound?
Because there are options. Before we look at these, let me introduce you to a natural alternative that could leave you feeling more energised and better able to concentrate, without the danger of an energy crash.
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Adaptogens - a natural boost
You may have already know some of these adaptogenic plants - Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, Siberian ginseng and Reishi mushroom, to name just a few.
These herbs and mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda and lots of research has been undertaken in recent years. This has shown that these plants can support the body to increase energy and strengthen other body systems without the negative effects of stimulants.
Not only that, they may be able help to regulate the production of stress hormones like cortisol, reduce the impact of stress and anxiety, help energy levels as well as supporting your immune system.
They could help you to feel your best
These amazing plants may help you to sleep better, feel more energised, less stressed and anxious more alert and clear headed.
They could be your recovery support if you are suffering from chronic fatigue symptoms of low mood, low energy, brain fog, memory challenges and trouble with sleep.
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Taking a coffee break
How can I replace my coffee?
Here you have options - here’s a selection.
You could:
Cut down on the number of coffees you drink as a first step.
Add an adaptogenic herb, in powder form to your coffee, so you mitigate some of the negative effects of coffee.
Try a coffee substitute like dandelion root or chicory (which I love).
Drink an energising herbal tea. Some adaptogens can be taken as a tea.
Opt for a green tea, a lot less caffeine and plenty of health benefits.
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If you are really suffering from fatigue
A combination of adaptogenic herbs, specially selected for you, that you can take in either powder or tincture form to support your body to initiate its innate healing process.
Get the right herbs to support you ….
These herbs can have wonderful benefits, but not every herb will suit everyone.
For example, people have said to me that ashwaganda doesn’t work for them and therefore herbs don’t work.
We are all different and it means that whilst many people find that ashwaganda really works for them (me included), it isn’t always the best herb for everyone.
That’s why consulting a professional herbalist, who has been trained and understand the herbs inside out, can save you time and money in selecting the best herbs for you. Quite often these herbs work best when partnered with other herbs that may help to relieve some of the other symptoms you are experiencing.
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Are you ready to change your coffee routine?
I hope this article has opened your eyes to the natural alternatives to caffeine. It can be a challenge to give up a drink you love or are just in the habit of drinking, but you could be doing yourself a big favour by cutting down and trying some other options. Variety is the spice of life and you may find yourself enjoying some of the alternatives too.
Top 5 take aways
1. Coffee isn’t naturally bad for you, there are benefits to drinking it, but if you are sensitive to caffeine, it can leave you feeling jittery during the day and hyped up at night unable to sleep.
2. Coffee can release stress hormones to make stress worse.
3. Adaptogens like ashwaganda, rhodiola and ginseng ,may be able to boost your energy, enhance resilience to stress and support your concentration without leading to an energy crash or the jitters.
4. You can change your coffee routine by opting for alternatives or even adding some of the alternatives, like powdered adaptogens, to your coffee to modify the caffeine effects.
5. Consulting a herbalist to find the best herbs for you and including them in a mix of herbs that are tailored to help relieve your CFS symptoms, could be a real help to your recovery back to feeling energised again.
Have you been inspired but feel you need some support?
Feeling exhausted and know you need to make some changes, but not sure where to start? I hear you, it can be difficult to know what to change and replace it with. That’s where I can help as I have been where you are now and I used (and continue to do so) adaptogenic herbs to support my wellbeing and vitality. They were a game changer for me when I was recovering from chronic fatigue.
This is why I am in a unique position to understand what you may be feeling. I am committed to supporting you to feel more energised by providing you with a safe space where you will not feel like you are being judged but will be treated with care and empathy.
I help people on a one to one basis, so if you’d like to discuss how working together could help you to kick start your journey back from persistent tiredness, do get in touch.
I offer a free 30 minute discovery call for us to chat about the help you are looking for and how I may be able to help you to feel like yourself again.
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The content of this blog is provided for educational and information purposes only and does not constitute personal or professional advice. It is recommended that prior to making any diet, supplement or other lifestyle changes (including exercise regimes), you first discuss these with your doctor or health care practitioner.
If you are experiencing persistent tiredness or chronic fatigue like symptoms, you should discuss these with your GP as soon as possible as these could be symptoms of another illness.