Recent figures published by the National Coffee Association show that people in the West have a truly insatiable desire for caffeine.
Did you know that:
- 54% of Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee every single day
- Daily consumption of espresso-based beverages has almost tripled since 2008
- The market for gourmet coffee and caffeinated iced drinks continues to rise year on year
- 65% of all the coffee consumed in the USA is during breakfast time
Having the odd cup of coffee every now and then might seem like a harmless treat, but there’s a whole host of reasons why this mindset is very damaging for people with Adrenal Fatigue.
Why You Should Avoid Caffeine
If you don’t already know why caffeine is such a bad idea let me quickly run you through it:
First of all, that initial caffeine kick is always followed by a crash. Caffeine forces your body to release cortisol and adrenaline, which instantly puts you into “fight or flight” mode. This stresses your adrenals and, ultimately, leaves you feeling even more depleted and listless.
Drinking coffee has a direct impact on your waistline. This is because cortisol stimulates hunger, making you crave sugar and other high energy foods to provide you with another “hit.”
Caffeine interferes with your body clock. Drinking coffee during the daytime makes it much harder to get off to sleep at night. Inevitably this leads to feelings of increased tiredness in the morning, and so the cycle continues….
Finally, coffee is a diuretic; it causes dehydration. Drinking it places an additional burden on your liver, which then has to work even harder to process toxins out of your system.
If you’re relying on caffeine to get you through the day, it’s probably time to give some serious thought to kicking the habit to the curb once and for all.
Giving up coffee is a cornerstone of our adrenal fatigue recovery plan, for good reason.
What Are The Alternatives To Coffee?
Taking the first steps to wean yourself off this addictive substance can seem a bit scary. Luckily, there are a number of delicious alternatives that not only taste great, but are far better for your adrenal health.
Dandelion coffee
Dandelion “coffee” is actually a tea made from roasted dandelion root. It has a slightly bitter taste (which isn’t dissimilar to coffee), and so is one of the easiest ways to trick your taste buds into believing you’re not missing out on your morning ritual.
Dandelion blends are caffeine-free and have a number of reported health benefits. For example, roasted dandelion root is known to contain prebiotics that boost your immunity by helping to look after the good bacteria in your gut. It’s also full of anti-oxidants. Most of all, dandelion root is famous for being one of the best foods for supporting liver function; that’s extremely good news for anyone coping with Adrenal Fatigue.
Turmeric latte
If it’s the silky smooth taste of a latte you simply can’t live without; a turmeric latte may be more up your street.
Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and healing benefits. What’s less well known is that it needs to be taken together with fat in order for the body to benefit from its valuable properties. Without fat, curcumin (the active component in turmeric) has difficulty making its way into the small intestine, and therefore the blood stream, where it offers the most benefits.
If you’re looking to get more turmeric into your diet and start your day on a healthier note – this healthy, morning pick-me-up is just the ticket.
Hot raw chocolate
Everyone loves a hot mug of cocoa, and it’s so easy to whip up a no fuss, healthy brew using raw cacao powder in place of sugar-laden, shop bought products.
Cacao stimulates the production of “the happy hormone” serotonin, meaning it acts as a natural anti-depressant and mood boosting treat. Adding a dash of cinnamon into the mix helps to curb blood sugar levels, and provides that extra level of texture and flavor to ensure you’ll start your day feeling vibrant and energized.
Take-away
With so many delicious and health boosting alternatives, giving up caffeine doesn’t have to be another chore. Although you may initially experience some withdrawal symptoms, the health benefits of giving up coffee far outweigh the misery of those unpredictable energy spikes and crashes.
Leave a Reply