Kicking the Caffeine Addiction

Instead of water, most people today reach for coffee, soda, and alcohol. While these beverages do contain water, they are actually diuretics, which mean they purge water from the body.  When one consumes these beverages, the body requires more water than usual to make up for this loss.

While small amounts of coffee won’t kill you, caffeine can be very addictive and, when consumed in large quantities, can lead to adrenal fatigue.

The main problem with coffee is that it can lead to addiction. Many readers may identify with this knowing that over time it requires more and more coffee to give you the same “buzz”, and eventually that “buzz” becomes the norm.

When consumed multiple times per day over the long term, coffee stimulates the release of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones can lead to heart palpitations, anxiety and even insomnia. Considering how sleep deprived, overstressed and over stimulated most of us already are, it’s time we consider coffee the occasional turn to as opposed to the daily addiction.

Here are some healthier alternatives:

• If you want the coffee taste without the addiction, try roasted dandelion root tea. If you’re just after healthy alternatives try chai, green, herbal, or fresh lemon and ginger teas. They also aid in weight loss and help increase immunity and robust health. 
• If you’re not yet ready to give up your morning cup of coffee, make sure you stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Whenever possible, opt for organic beans and organic milk. Also, cut down on the sugar or replace sugar with stevia, a natural sweetener, which actually has a longer-lasting taste than sugar.  
• For a quick thirst-quencher, squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water, add a pinch of unrefined sea salt and a half-inch knob of grated fresh ginger. And just like that you have a refreshing and healthy glass of lemonade, which will help keep you cool on hot days, while adding nutrients to your body and aiding in detoxification. 
• If you miss the fizz from soda, add a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar — a powerful probiotic — and a squeeze of lemon to sparkling mineral water. It’s great for dinner parties.