Waking up every day early in the morning may seem hectic and many people have started to make coffee a part of their breakfast to stay active throughout the day. However, taking coffee in an excess amount is not healthy for your body. There are many alternatives to caffeine products you can try to get yourself started in the morning and stay active throughout the day.
Why Is Excessive Caffeine Bad?
Although known for improving metabolism and giving away an instant boost to the body, experts always warn regarding the numerous side effects which high doses of caffeine carry. One of the most important issues is anxiety. Caffeine increases the level of adrenaline in the body which increases alertness as well. At higher doses, you may feel nervous which may also cause rapid breathing and an increase in stress levels. The American Psychiatric Association has conducted thorough research on caffeine-induced anxiety.
It may help you get up early but taking it in a higher quantity won’t let you go back to a peaceful sleep again. Studies have evaluated that a higher amount of caffeine can decrease the total sleep time causing restlessness, tiredness, and long-term issues in the body. Since the effect of caffeine takes a certain time to lay off, having excess coffee many times during the day could be interfering with your night sleep too.
Many people don’t realize that they have been taking too much coffee unless they stop doing so because caffeine is addictive. As a result, caffeine intake makes them too addicted to artificial energy and they can’t just leave the coffee. Moreover, some may also face diarrhea or lose motions due to excessive caffeine as it acts as a laxative too.
Caffeine Alternatives for Staying Active
Many people have this belief that caffeine is perhaps the only thing essential in the morning and they won’t be able to work unless they drink a cup of coffee. That is just wrong because research has proven different items that can surely do what caffeine does.
Fresh Juice
If you want a fresh and active day with no side effects or addictive properties, fresh juice should be on top of your priority list. Having fresh fruit or vegetable juice on an empty stomach could release toxins, provide you instant energy, and help in making the immune system stronger. The digestive tract of the human body is also improved when you consume fresh juice.
People who have blood pressure issues are usually not advised to take caffeine. But they can surely drink juices because not only do they control your blood pressure but also provide you with healthy sugars only causing no harm. To stay energetic, you can have fresh juice two times a day as well. There are many different types of combinations of juices to try out such as carrot, apple, orange, mango, green veggies, dates, and others as well.
Berries
People who love sweets would love eating berries in the morning. Berries have high fiber content which doesn’t only give you the morning boost but keeps you active throughout the day. Pro tip – Pack some blueberries in a lunch box and munch around at work too. Whenever you feel low at work, pick out some berries and enjoy a midday snack.
Experts suggest that berries improve endothelial health as well as improving the blood pressure of the body. You can eat them in several ways such as salad, fruit bowl, berries and cream, and a range of other desserts you can find online.
Nuts
Nuts are important because they have so many benefits. Most importantly, they help you to have a balanced diet in the form of a snack item. Nuts contain a range of carbs, healthy fats, and proteins vital to maintaining health in its most ideal manner as well as speeding up the absorption and metabolism rate of the body. The best thing is that you can eat nuts at home or carry a pack at work and eat during breaks. They are a great caffeine alternative along with other vital health benefits
In addition to that, experts also suggest improved brain-wave frequencies associated with eating nuts on a regular basis. This also implies that by constantly eating nuts, you will always wake up energetic eliminating the need for any energy-giving food items. The best nuts you can get are walnuts because they have more antioxidants than other nuts as well as improve memory function too.
Water with Lemon
One way to proceed with a busy day is to start by taking care of the level of hydration in your body. Drink water on an empty stomach as it will give you a kickstart while flushing out toxins too. Squeezing a lemon or two in water will give it a flavor as well as improve the metabolism rate. Using the lemon will also fulfill the Vitamin C requirements as well as the Nutrients will absorb into the body at a fast pace when you are well hydrated.
Most importantly, dehydration leads to weakness but drinking sufficient quantity at the start of the day will make sure nothing like that happens at any time. Drinking ample water is probably the safest and easiest way to kickstart your day and replace caffeine. With more water, there is also higher production of the red blood cells as well as better oxygen flow to the brain. In a nutshell, something as simple as water is all that you need to stay up all day.
Taking proper sleep is also essential to get started the next morning else there might be headaches. Learn more here – Does Lack of Sleep Cause Headaches?
Using Maca
For those who don’t know, Maca is a vegetable belonging to the broccoli and cabbage family. It is mainly grown in central Peru and not usually available in raw form for purchase. You may go to Walmart and find it in a powdered form which will help in easily adding it to the soups, smoothies, morning cereals, and other baked items as well. Taking some Maca powder along with your breakfast will help in reducing the level of weakness through added responsiveness in the body.
The memory function is also improved along with other important benefits to the brain. Maca is a vegetable known specifically for improving testosterone levels which is ultimately related to the energy levels in the body. It can also provide assistance against all types of free radicals and increase the level of libido in the body too. Mix it with some hot milk at the start of your day and you will notice as much energy as caffeine gives you.
Dates
Although you can consume any fruit in the morning and it will help you in having an energetic day, dates are something exceptionally energizing. Dates are known to have one of the best nutritional values with 7 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and other different multivitamins too. Being rich in antioxidants, they can be useful at the start of your day by making the toxins go away.
Dates are an alternative to caffeine because they help in having an improved brain function too. According to various lab results, it was found out that dates lower inflammatory effects and improve memory function along with responsiveness in the body. Just two dates every morning could keep you fresh all day. Doctors have also concluded that dates aid in bone health and blood sugar control allowing you to live life to its fullest.
Protein Shakes
Protein Shakes are one of the most consumed drinks in the morning. You might be thinking that they have caffeine but this isn’t necessary for every other protein shake that you see. The pre-workout protein shakes usually have high caffeine content because they are made to give you an instant boost to the body ensuring you have a high endurance level during the gym sessions.
On the other hand, post-workout protein shakes are usually full of nutrients that can be quickly absorbed by the body. Not only does it allow you to relax but provides the body with all the required nutritional content. If you take it in the morning, you will surely see an improvement in the daily routine as it will result in better control over fatigue through all the essential content. Whey Protein is one of the most used ones all over the USA. You can consult your gym trainer for a better protein shake according to the body requirements.
Find out more on the drawbacks of sleeping late – Why is Sleeping Late Bad for Your Health?
Conclusion
Getting started in the morning is easy without caffeine too. In fact, it is also safe to rely less on caffeine due to its addictive features because if you stop, there will be excessive fatigue and stress. Make yourself independent from a daily dose of caffeine by switching to other alternatives that can provide you the required energy for a big day without any kinds of side effects. Just make sure that you are following the right instructions and you will feel the difference visibly.