Many of us start our day with a cup of fresh coffee, using it as a tool to prepare the day to come.
Although it is one of the most popular drinks in the world, coffee is not always the best choice, especially as a morning drink. In some cases, coffee can have the opposite effect only expected when consumed in the morning.
This is due to the way drink interacts with our body hormones, including cortisol, often called “stress hormone”. Cortisol plays a crucial role in regulating our vigilance throughout the day, a process that can be disturbed by drinking coffee.
When we wake up, our body produces a large amount of cortisol to help us wake up. However, the high caffeine content in coffee can interfere with this process, which makes us potentially more tired.
Fortunately, there are many alternative drinks that can keep you alert in the morning without seriously disturbing your cortisol levels like coffee.
Green tea
Green tea is a popular substitute for coffee because of its similar effects on vigilance. Although green tea contains moderate quantities of caffeine, it has much less than coffee, with around 30 milligrams of caffeine per average cup compared to the 80 milligrams of coffee per cup.
In addition, green tea has gained ground as a weight loss help, some research suggesting that its regular contribution could help prevent obesity.
Matcha
Matcha is a variant powder of green tea which offers many of the same health benefits but in greater quantity. Indeed, matcha powder uses the whole plant, while green tea is only made of leaves.
As a result, it has a higher concentration of antioxidants and nutrients, which can thwart the effects of aging and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate is a drink based on plants widely consumed in South America. Although its caffeine content is comparable to coffee, which can still affect your morning cortisol levels, it also offers many other health benefits.
A typical Yerba Mate cup is filled with antioxidants derived from plant compounds, similar to green tea, offering all the similar advantages mentioned above. In addition, it contains a picture of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, thiamine and riboflavine.
Chicory coffee
Chicory coffee is brewed from chicory root and is a popular alternative to traditional coffee. It is believed that it is from France and has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, including New Orleans, where it has become a basic food during the civil war due to a shortage of important coffee.
Although it shares a taste similar to coffee, often with a more earthy note, chicory coffee is naturally devoid of caffeine and offers other nutrients and beneficial compounds for a healthy lifestyle. For example, it can provide prebiotic fiber inulin, which can help weight loss.
In addition, a cup of chicory coffee includes vitamin B6 and manganese.
