Coffee Alternatives: Meet the Herbal Elixirs

Sep 4

Morning coffee can be a ritual. It’s great to wake up and have a full bodied, warm pick me up. When I first started recognizing that coffee didn’t agree with me that was the hardest part, having to miss out on the warm morning treat.

It’s been a little over a year now that I have stopped drinking coffee and I can happily say that one thing that hasn’t changed is an exciting, warm drink to look forward to in the morning, or even late afternoon, or really anytime that I might otherwise crave a coffee.

Now I am not saying that coffee is negative for everyone, it’s rare that I will encourage a patient to discontinue this daily habit, however for certain people in certain life stages I believe it does more harm than it is doing good.

Specifically it is the impact on the nervous system for those people who are already in a state of sympathetic overload who really could do without the extra jitter. To explain what I mean, if you are someone who has a hard time slowing down and connecting to breath, tend towards an anxious demeanour and nervousness, or has a hard time gearing down for bed and falling asleep then I often find that coffee is not beneficial. Caffeine exists in green and black tea, as well as chocolate and added to other sugary drinks, but as it exists in coffee it is the highest (other than some processed drinks) and most easily absorbed form. In chocolate you have the fats and other caloric content that slow down it’s release, in tea it exists in lower quantities and along side an amino acid known as L-theanine (which calms you as well) and in typical soft drinks it is in lower quantities as well.

When we have coffee it can bring us into that sympathetic dominant state where we can think quickly and react fast. However the down side is that once in that state, the alkaloid keeps us in there and it is hard to come out. Particularly when added stresses such as someone cutting you off in traffic, commenting negatively on a social media post or another trigger type situation that might set you off. For that reason I find I have a much easier day, less jitter, anxiety, and better focus if I avoid the coffee. But the question for me as I adjusted was, what can I have instead? Below I am going to share a few of my favourite drink combinations that can act as a coffee alternative, many more exist however these are just a few that I love.

Maca Elixir

Maca is a tuber (think parsnip) from the high Andean mountains that has a slightly sweat and spicy taste. Nutritionally it is consumed as a food, high in protein and complex carbohydrates it is also acts as what is known as an adaptogenic plant. Long term use as been shown to provide modulation of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis) which is critically involved in the bodies stress response system. Maca is also well known for promoting libido and sexual fertility in both women and men, and for balancing hormonal deficiencies. 13 varieties of maca exist, and can be differentiated by colour, taste and herbal function in the body. Among it’s adaptogenic actions, it also is beneficial to a host of other body functions only a few of which are: depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, menopause, athletic performance, neuroprotection and more. To make a drink I use 1 tsp of ground maca root, 1 tsp of cocoa, and ½-1 tsp of Reishi extract powder to a small blender. Then 2 cups of boiling water, one dash of almond milk and ½ tsp of honey. Blend for a few seconds and you have a frothy, warm, rich and nutritious morning elixir.

You can also buy preblended maca drinks such as Macaccino drink mix by Organic traditions.

Reishi and other medicinal mushrooms

Extracts from medicinal mushrooms have a naturally rich and somewhat bitter taste that is similar to the richness of coffee. However they offer totally different health profiles and benefits when consumed as a warm mixed drink. Reishi in particular tastes amazing in the morning with a dash of honey and potentially a few more mushrooms, thrown in for good measure. Reishi grows wild in forests in Asia and here in North America. Typically for medicinal uses however they are cultivated in farms. Medicinal mushrooms interact with our immune systems, containing polysaccharids that “educate” immune cells and either up-regulate or down-regulate their actions. Traditionally Reishi is known as a “shen” tonic which is used to calm the nerves, ease anxiety and promote healthy sleep (without being a sedative). Medicinal mushrooms as a group are nourishing rather than stimulating and feed the nervous system rather than ramp it up. With all the impacts on immune function, medicinal mushrooms act to support the immune system and help it be better equip to deal with foreign invaders such as colds and flus. For a mushroom blend elixir I use: 1 tsp Reishi extract, 1 tsp Lionsmane extract, 1 tsp cocoa, a dash of cinnamon or cardamom, 2 cups boiled water, dash of almond milk ½ tsp honey and blend together for 10-15 seconds. Voila a warm, robust cup of immune system goodness that fuels you as well as nourishes the immune system.

For prepared blends try: Four Sigmatic mushroom pouches, Harmonic Arts 5 mushroom powder or Organic Traditions.

Golden Mylk

Golden Mylk is an Ayurvedic drink, often consumed before bed to warm the tummy and calm you down. The main ingredient is turmeric, however it also contains other herbs and spices that taste great and calm the body. Turmeric of course contains the constituent curcurmin which is famously known to reduce inflammation in the body, have anticancer action as well as cardiovascular benefit. Particularly known for relief of pain from inflamed joints and digestive tract, turmeric in this way is a gentle and low dose addition to the body that has reasonable bioavailability. In this recipe the almond milk is warmed on the stove for several minutes with the turmeric and other spices to better extract the active constituents. The addition of black pepper has been shown to increase bioavailability. Use 3 cups of almond or another milk on the stove top, add 1 ½ tsp of ground turmeric, ¼ tsp ground ginger, 1 whole cinnamon stick (or ¼ ground cinnamon), 1 pinch of ground black pepper, 1 Tbsp of coconut or MCT oil and honey to taste. Warm and stir on low for 5-10 minutes and your golden mylk is ready for sipping. You can follow the above recipe or use a prepared mix such as that by Organic Traditions, Harmonic Arts or many others.

So there you have it, a few warm, rich drinks that nourish your body and are satisfying alternatives to coffee. Hope you enjoy!