Cutting out caffeine … really.

As we run, like hamsters on a treadmill, after the coat-tails of our own lives, caffeine has become a powerful and sometimes essential ally. In fact, caffeine is the most commonly used ‘psychoactive’ drug in the world, with approximately 80% of the world’s population consuming it on a daily basis. Its health benefits and consequences are subject enough for a few thousands blogs alone, but here I am going to describe some good caffeine-substitutions for those of you who have decided to try the treadmill without the stimulus!

It is first important to make the point that ‘decaffeinated’ rarely means ‘without any trace of caffeine’. I could bore you with statistics from recent trials which show how much caffeine was found in various ‘decaffeinated’ drinks, but instead, just take my word for it …. If you don’t want caffeine, I recommend you pick a totally different option.
I also want to preface this with the fact that chocolate, of course, is a source of caffeine (as are many energy drinks and soft drinks). Here, I am strictly suggesting alternatives for your Starbucks run, not your chocolate brownie recipe!

Making the switch from coffee or caffeinated tea to their caffeine-free counterparts is easiest done in 3 parts: 1) decide what roll caffeine plays in your life (think: habitual, emotional, fatigue-fighting …?), 2) decide what element of your caffeine-containing drink you like best (think: the fact it’s hot, the fact it’s milky/sweet, the fact it’s associated with friends/treats/doing something for yourself, its ‘pick-me-up’ property … 3) find a substitute which fills as many of the roles as possible, without containing the caffeine.

What I mean is, if you enjoy the milky sweetness of a vanilla latte, deciding to cut caffeine out of your day and choosing a mint tea really isn’t going to fulfill you for very long, but a vanilla Rooibos latte might just fill the void!

Here is a short list to help navigate the ‘caffeine-free’ options, (I should add that this does not include any caffeine-alternatives which contain stimulants such as Yerba Mate).

Rooibos tea / Redbush tea / Bush tea / Red tea: This is my favorite choice if I’m wanting a hot tea which tastes good with milk/soy milk. This herbal tea is very popular in South Africa and in some coffee shops it is even sold as a coffee-alternative, serving concentrated rooibos in the style of an espresso. Rooibos has a high level of antioxidants, no caffeine, and very low levels of tannin.

Ginger tea, Peppermint tea, Chamomile tea and other common ‘herbal’ teas: These are great options if you’re looking for alternatives to black tea or green tea (ie, you are not wanting the ‘milky’ taste).
Ginger is well known for its digestive support (for both indigestion and nausea) and has a spicy, invigorating taste.
Peppermint also has a role to play in soothing digestive discomforts, and is also used to fight congestion and cough related to colds and allergies.
Chamomile tea is soothing and thought to relieve muscle spasms (helping with women’s menstrual cramps) and boost the immune system.

Herbal ‘coffees’ such as ‘Teeccino’: These vary by name and brand but are generally a blend of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts which are free of caffeine and deliver a similar-tasting, full-bodied drink comparable to coffee. I definitely recommend experimenting with this small group of coffee-substitutes if you miss the heavy-body of the coffee-drink as this cannot be simulated with a cup of tea … I don’t think!

If it’s the stimulating effect of coffee which has you going back for more, there are definitely other, ‘cleaner’ options to try. Green tea is often touted as a great ‘coffee alternative’ but if it’s the caffeine you’re trying to avoid, this won’t work. Maybe I will blog about caffeine-free stimulant drinks another time…until then, enjoy experimenting with these substitutes, unless of course, you’re too tired ….