Saying So Long To Coffee
One of my fondest memories from my visits to India is making frequent stops to savour the roadside South Indian coffee — which was over-sweetened and laden with milk, but oh so yummy.
I was a coffee lover, and, to be honest, I still am. But I was torn by what health experts were saying: Coffee is good. Coffee is bad. Who to believe? Well, there are usually two sides to everything and coffee is no different. You have to tune in to your body to determine whether coffee is your friend or foe.
For many of us, coffee can be a real trouble maker because it can cause mood swings and psychological dependence, and it can give you the jitters and energy crashes midday. Coffee has been linked to conditions like high blood pressure and high levels of “bad” cholesterol, conditions that South Asians are predisposed to. So if you’re sensitive to coffee, it’s time to rethink that cup of java (or three). These five tips will help you replace or reduce your coffee intake.
- Lemon Water and Greens: Instead of reaching for your coffee first thing in the morning, have a cup of warm lemon water (half a lemon squeezed into warm water) and a green juice (fresh or greens powder) to alkalinize your body before you have your coffee. Interestingly, when I started introducing lemon water and green juice to my morning routine, my cravings for coffee started to decline.
- Matcha Tea: Not only is matcha tea full of antioxidants, it’s also detoxifying, it lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and boosts metabolism. It is highly energizing and it doesn’t give you the jitters. Replace your morning or afternoon coffee with a cup of matcha tea and test it out.
- Roasted Dandelion Herbal Tea: One of my new favourites, roasted dandelion herbal tea mimics the colour, texture and fullness of coffee. It doesn’t get any better than this.
- Introduce Meditative or Creative Practices: Often times, dependency and addiction to a substance such as coffee can signal deeper underlying issues. Exploration in this area is key to helping kick addictions. One practice that has helped me in this area is journaling regularly. Journal your uncensored thoughts and see what comes up for you, and be patient with it.
- Sleep: Make sure you get enough sleep (an average of eight hours per day). When you combat the effects of sleepiness with coffee, you are double shocking your system. If you’re well-rested, you will be supported in your desire to create healthy habits, including eliminating or reducing caffeine from your diet, by allowing your body to restore itself.
Photo Credits:
Main image: www.deathtothestockphoto.com; coffee cup: www.dreamatico.com
Dimple Mukherjee
Author
Dimple Mukherjee is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience and has obtained specific training in Health Coaching through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is the founder of Whole Self Consulting and is passionate about helping South Asian working mothers to reinve...
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