We, Filipinos, are huge fans of coffee. A great majority of our population either have the occasional one to two cups per day or have the brown, aromatic fluid running through their veins.
Brief background: One of my regular students who NEVER comes to my class without a shot (or two) of espresso arrived before Zumba started last night with her usual cup. I raised my own cup of Americano and told her I felt like getting a boost after my personal yoga practice (something I don’t normally feel like doing). She laughed and went “Oh, no. We (the whole class) are all going to pay for that.” I usually have a good amount of energy when leading a class—okay not just good, I see to it that I go on like the Energizer bunny. But today, my students noticed the difference that cup of coffee made. I wasn’t just the Energizer bunny, I was Ricochet Rabbit. I felt the crash a couple of hours later, then it was time for bed. This blog entry is inspired by her and dedicated to her, one of my most enthusiastic students.
Clearly, I myself am a coffee (and tea) drinker. I love waking up to a warm cup at breakfast each morning… And then, before lunch…and then again in the afternoon to ward off sleepiness and then later when I go out to meet my girls.
But that’s how I used to be. It came to a point when my love for coffee was basically an addiction. I could drink a cup of Americano in the evening and still fall asleep without a problem. It was getting out of hand and I knew that was when I needed to stop. I still LOVE my bulletproof coffee in the morning but I’ve learned not to mindlessly drink just for the caffeine rush.
Just so we’re clear, coffee isn’t really harmful to the body. It contains no calories (without sugar, milk or creamer) and is loaded with antioxidants. Coffee consumption is also said to help rev the metabolism and aid in weight loss. But you know what they say, too much of anything can’t be good. And when you feel like you’re going beyond your usual intake, maybe it’s time to find a few good replacements that won’t leave you crashing, dehydrated or feeling like a junkie who just wants more.
The most popular reason why we keep drinking coffee is because we all feel like we need that extra boost to fight off that sleepiness that comes and hovers over us like a cloud most especially during siesta time. Plus caffeine is addictive. The more you take, the more your body becomes immune to its effects. And so you increase and increase your dosage until you get the same kick from what used to be just one cup.
Below is my list of best coffee alternatives. And since this isn’t exclusively a food/drink list, you can so easily combine any of the things here to see how they work for you.
- LIGHTS. Ever noticed how spas have dim lighting? Little to no light signals the body to relax, slow down and sometimes, prepare itself to sleep. Studies have also shown that working in a dimly lit room lessens productivity. Brightness signals daytime and, unless you’re a nocturnal person, you should find yourself feeling more alert when lights are turned up. So let the sun shine into your room the moment you wake up. Turn on the lights if that’s not enough.
- APPLES. Don’t let Snow White deceive you. Apples don’t put you into a deep sleep. They give the body the same energy boost as coffee along with antioxidants and flavanoids which are highly beneficial for the body. Apart from that, munching on them gets the mouth busy, helping you stay awake and functioning.
- GREEN TEA. A healthier version of coffee is Green Tea. Like coffee, it contains caffeine (but much less than coffee or black tea) and a good amount of antioxidants. Green Tea wakes you without sending you out to bounce off the walls.
- BACKBENDS. No, you don’t have to be a yogi to do this. The moment you wake up, the body gets the natural inclination to stretch, arch the back, and open up the chest. Ever noticed that? No matter how shallow or deep your backbend is, this motion awakens the spine and unclogs energy pathways that get stuck when you remain static for a long time or when you slump in your seat.
Even a mini backbend should do the trick. 😉
- DANCE! If number 4 doesn’t require you to be a yogi, this one definitely doesn’t require you to be a dancer. And you know what else feels good? Doing it in your underwear, at home, Cameron Diaz style.
Featured Image elements from Pinterest and Pega.com
