by Leo Wiles
05 April 2017
Since I started freelancing I drink so much coffee I just feel high as a kite all the time… what else should I be chugging? Helen
I’m with you, Helen. Ristretto, sketo, macchiato… hell, even an iced coffee now and then; I love them all. Which is probably why I’m six shots into my day with a heart rate well above the National Institute of Health’s recommended 60-100 beats per minute. Despite being stationary!
But, like you, I’m also aware that it might be time to ditch my stimulant of choice to gain a better night’s sleep and less stomach upsets. I mean, we are talking about a naturally occurring plant poison… and, while tea may seem like the obvious replacement, keep in mind that tea leaves have more caffeine than Java beans. And, of course, energy drinks and soft drinks contain high levels of 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine (yep, you guessed it – just another way of saying ‘caffeine’).
Quick disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, dietician or health professional by any means, but the following drinks are the ones I’m reaching for to replace my regular shot of Joe.
Vital Greens Sure, this powerhouse powder makes me gag and I haven’t found a mixer that makes it better – but anything that tastes this bad must be doing you good, right?
Apple Cider vinegar It’s said to be good for acne, dandruff and keeping you regular. And, the amino acids stop your tummy being sluggish when a capful is mixed with warm water. If you can’t get it down, try adding it to a sugar free Cranberry with a tablespoon of lemon juice to make it more palatable.
Berocca Does it give you energy? The jury’s still out, but I know I always feel better after a glass of multivitamin effervescence.
Ginger tea With winter round the corner, I’ll be firing up the kettle to make ginger tea. Peel the root and simmer in water for ten minutes – that’s it. Easy to make a whole batch easily and it tastes good hot or cold. Ginger teabags are readily available if you’re time-poor, or you could stock up on a heap of new herbal options.
Hot chocolate Hot milk and a quality chocolate powder with a little froth on top if you’re lucky enough to own a coffee machine. What’s not to love?
Get juicing The greener the better. If you’re time poor and haven’t been to the markets, reach for V8 – preferably low sodium options if you can.
Get blending Australia’s Department of Health says tap water closely followed by milk are the healthiest options for kids and adults. So throw a few acacia berries, strawberries, blueberries into the blender along with a frozen banana and a dash of apple juice or water for a silky smooth smoothie. There are so many recipes out there, you’ll never get bored.
Coconut water When it’s too early for the top shelf and too late in the day for caffeine, what to do? Coconut water is said to be mineral-and-potassium-rich and it’s pretty refreshing.
Kombucha Feeling virtuous? This fermented, priobiotic tea yeast mix is the latest in trendy pick-me-ups.
If all else fails… There’s always Dandelion root coffee – it even tastes a bit like the real thing.
Are you a coffee addict like Helen and me? What’s your beverage of choice while you’re working?
Love your cranberry and lemon juice idea! I do half a lemon (small size) and a generous splash of cranberry juice, then add splash-y mix of warmish as wellas cold tap hot water, all in a big tumbler glass. Beats supermarket orange juice I reckon, though do go through stages.
Temptation aside, modest coffee intake for reasons you rightly state!
Have to agree Robyn. Although I took the kids to the dentist recently and they had a chart showing popular drinks such as sodas and juice with an accompanying bag of sugar to illustrate the amount in each – eyeopener doesn’t begin to cover it and OJ – with it’s 7 and a half teaspoons per serve – has been banned from the fridge ever since.
I run on about 5L of tea a day and sleep very well thank you very much. If you’re interested, check out the literature on caffeine versus theine.
And not all sugar is ‘bad’; it depends on whether it’s added or inherent in the fruit. So freshly squeezed orange juice is actually okay because it comes with all the other fibre and nutrients that helps you digest the sugar in the right way.
Fructose wins over sucrose every day I agree. For us though my kids are so intolerant to any and all sugar hits I’ve chosen to avoid even breakfast juice that’s all.
I don’t drink coffee and get “tea-ed out” by midday.
So, I drink sparkling water / plain mineral water. More interesting than still tap water and the bubbles make me feel like I’m celebrating something!
Well, freelance writing can be a lonely pursuit, you have to make your own fun, right?!
When I was pregnant I would drink my fresh lime laden mineral water out of a wine glass to add that touch of occasion too.
I don’t drink coffee – never have, and reading this makes me feel I have somehow dodged a bullet – but I do love a good cuppa. I’ve had to massively cut back though. I was up to about 6 or 7 a day until recently…
And Kylie I am a huge fan of sparkling mineral with a dash of squeezed lime. Yum.