Healthy Alternatives to Coffee

Are there healthy alternatives to coffee?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. People drink coffee for different reasons. Some like the taste, while others enjoy the energy boost experienced after drinking a cup of hot coffee. Some drink the beverage socially, while others drink it habitually. Despite its popularity, coffee and its consumption remain controversial subjects. In 2007, the American Society for Nutrition discussed, during its "controversy session," the health benefits and detriments of coffee consumption. There are healthy alternatives to coffee if you are looking for a suitable substitute for your regular cup of java.

Green Tea

The Chinese use green tea for medicinal purposes.

Believed to increase metabolism and fat oxidation, green tea is popular among diet enthusiasts because of its link to weight loss. But green tea has many other health benefits that suggest it should replace coffee in any health conscious person's lifestyle. By reducing the risk of thrombosis, green tea might help reduce the risk of heart disease. Green tea has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years, and it has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, to boost impaired immune systems, and even reduce rates of tooth decay by eliminating dental plaque. Green tea contains lower amounts of caffeine than black tea, resulting in reduced rates of insomnia.

Lemon and Water

Lemons help detoxify the liver.

Holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy recommends drinking a mixture of lemon and water on an empty stomach every morning instead of coffee. Lemon is one of few foods that helps the liver detoxify naturally by encouraging the production of bile, which carries toxins out of the liver. McCarthy recommends squeezing the juice from 1/4 or 1/2 of a freshly cut lemon into a glass of water and drinking the mixture every morning on an empty stomach.

Rooibos Tea

For coffee drinkers who crave the warm, creamy and sweet qualities of certain types of coffee, rooibos tea might be an option that satisfies their tastes. Known as red bush tea, rooibos comes from South Africa. Rooibos is caffeine-free, unlike green tea, and loaded with antioxidants. This makes it perfect for those wishing to eliminate coffee from their diets because of the caffeine content.

Teeccino

A caffeine-free herbal coffee, Teeccino is brewed from herbs, grains, fruits and nuts that have been roasted and ground to resemble real coffee. Teeccino is designed for coffee addicts who find it difficult to quit coffee. By blending this herbal drink into coffee over a two-week period, Teeccino eases coffee drinkers into the dietary change. The makers of Teeccino claim that the herbal coffee is safe for pregnant and nursing mothers due to the lack of stimulants in its composition.

References

• Natural News: Introducing Healthy Coffee That Boosts Immunity
• HealthMad: 10 Great Benefits of Drinking Green Tea
• That's Fit: Lemon Water to Start your Day: Healthy Coffee Alternative
• The Diet Channel: Coffee Alternatives for Coffee Addicts
• Teeccino: Frequently Asked Questions About Teeccino