When you were younger, coffee was probably something you had to ask permission to drink after you pulled your first all-nighter. Or maybe you were accustomed to some decaf with your dessert. Then college comes around and all of a sudden caffeine becomes a food group and you’re gulping down at least 2 cups with every meal. We’ve all made the rookie mistake of ordering a red eye at 7 pm to get through a night class only to find ourselves fidgeting around at 3 am in an attempt to fall asleep. Sun comes up the next morning, and with your morning cup o’ Joe the cycle begins all over again.
If you’re like me, you are hesitant to trust anyone who utters the words, “I don’t drink coffee. I would rather wake up naturally.” My boyfriend jokingly calls me an addict and sometimes I just want to scream YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE MISSING until I realize it’s noon and I haven’t had my morning coffee and I have a pounding headache.
Luckily, when I used to sing and perform, I grew up knowing there was an alternative (Caffeine is actually really bad for your throat and vocal chords.) Sometimes I don’t actually need the caffeine that comes with a cup of coffee – I’m just looking for something warm to sip on that will help me feel re-energized. So if you’re over the caffeine jitters and ready to tread new territory for a while, pick up a pack of tea! The health benefits are incredible and you WILL notice a difference in your caffeine dependence. Each type of tea has different benefits so here’s a quick guide to help you create your perfect teatime.
· Green Tea: Green tea is known for its antioxidant-packed steamed tea leaves that help aid digestion and boost your immune system. A cup of green tea every day is a habit shown to produce weight loss, slow down ageing effects and lower cholesterol levels. I always try to have a cup after or with lunch so I don’t feel bloated the rest of the day.
· Black Tea: This is my Sunday brunch go-to. Black tea still has a fairly high caffeine level to wake you up, but not as much as coffee. Save the higher caffeine levels for when you need to sit down and finish the work you told yourself you were going to start on Friday. With some milk and sugar, a cup of black tea will have you feeling like a regular, proper English gentleman!
· White Tea: The leaves in white tea are unfermented, which give this drink a smoother and softer taste. Add a bit of honey and this is a dessert-like drink with almost no calories.
· Herbal Tea: Herbal teas are generally decaffeinated and provide an array of medically proven health benefits from lowered blood pressure to the stunt of cancer-cell growth. Fruit-flavored teas are delicious but are primarily manufactured for their taste and strip the natural tea leaf benefits. These herbal teas are equally as tasty (even tastier with a spoon of honey) and have incredible therapeutic value.
o Chamomile is a main ingredient in many “sleepy-time” blends because of its tranquilizing effects. The amino acids in this tea help relax the mind as you smoothly drift off to sleep.
o Ginger root is a godsend if you are starting to feel sick. This warming spice stimulates blood circulation to wash out toxins and speeds up the healing process so you get over your fever faster.
o Peppermint is a cabinet necessity if you tend to feel woozy from time to time. This herb breaks down fat in the digestion system so you can stop nausea in its tracks.
As a coffee-lover through and through, I can attest to the benefits of a daily cup of tea. Just by swapping my evening cup with a less caffeinated, more refreshing alternative, I can fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed. There’s absolutely nothing like curling up with a book and a cup of tea on a rainy day and there’s no scratchy throat that some “Sleepytime” can’t sooth.
Don’t worry about being a coffee purist. When it comes to your health, it helps to play the field a little ;)