For most people, coffee is a ritual, a chance to ease into the day with a hot cuppa right? Wait, I’m having a vision of someone frantically racing around, getting themselves ready for work and grabbing a quick sip as they run out the door, or collecting one as they get off the train and enter the hustle and bustle of the working day. OK, so the weekend coffee, perusing the paper may be the relaxating ritual to which I'm alluding!

Many people say they can’t start the day sans caffeine. I’d argue that there’s a certain comfort in an old habit and perhaps, if you delve a little deeper into how that morning brew affects your day, you might be given to reconsidering:

1. You might have heard this before (probably from me!) that you want to alkalinise your body as much as possible. Sure, your body does a pretty good job to regulate pH, but your diet certainly affects it. Coffee is VERY acidic. First thing in the morning when you really want to be alkalising is probably THE worst time to be chugging back the brown stuff. Oh, and Decaffeinated Coffee is just as bad as and even more acidic than regular coffee.
2. The high does not last. MANY people who say they can’t start the day without a coffee wake up with low energy , in need of an instant pick-me-up . The trouble with pick-me-ups is that pretty soon, they drop you down again. You’re living on borrowed energy that you’ll probably need to pay back later…with more coffee.
3. Depleting vitamins and minerals. The acidity of coffee can take calcium from our vital stores and it can also seriously reduce iron absorption. Then there’s depletion of B vitamins which are useful for managing our energy levels.
4. What happens to your brain when you drink coffee? You release stress hormones like epinephrine, cortisol, norepinephrine and glucocorticoids. These make you feel ‘wired’ and this might feel great initially but later you’re prone to experience tension and anxiety. You can see why coffee is not good for Type A personalities who fire their adrenals a little much already! (Yes, I am a type A!)
5. Caffeine is strongly linked to depression. Your brain doesn’t produce enough happy chemicals because you’re killing neurotransmitters. Depression sufferers often lack the ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin. Guess what? Caffeine suppresses serotonin.
6. Coffee is the most heavily sprayed food crop on the planet, I kid you not! There is no other plant that has a higher toxicity of pesticides than coffee. Studies have shown over a thousand chemicals in coffee—and crop workers are getting pretty sick of it, literally.

So ok, I’m the harbinger of doom and gloom and have crapped all over your morning routine, but let’s look at some options if you’re keen to try reducing your reliance on the brown goo:

 If it’s the ritual you need:

Try Teecino http://www.teeccino.com.au I’ve had good feedback on this product, Dandelion Tea is also great if you like a good strong brew, if you’d like to try easing back on the caffeine and taking it in a healthier form, try Green Tea or even a cup of regular tea will reduce your intake subantially. Try a Chai Latte or a hot chocolate if it’s the creamy, filling aspect you crave.

If it’s a long term energy improvement and the ability to get out of the house pumped and ready for the WHOLE day, then try really alklanising your body first thing with a glass of warm water and lemon followed by a green juice.

Then there’s the piece de resistance, I promise you if you start the day with this baby (after your juice) you will have energy to burn, and burn, and burn.

The secret ingredient? Raw Cacao. Many people mistakenly think chocolate contains caffeine. It actually contains Theobromine, which has a similar chemical structure but is metabolised differently and provides a milder, longer lasting energy boost. It’s still not a great thing to have too much of, but if you’re trying to ease yourself off caffeine, it’s a good alternative.  It also contains Phenethylamine (PEA) which is usually missing in roasted cocoa beans as it’s heat sensitive, PEA is a chemical produced by the adrenals when we fall in love or feel deeply moved by something, (I feel deeply moved by chocolate!) it’s also very important in increasing alertness.

Cacao is bursting with antioxidants and minerals, many of which are destroyed when the beans are roasted, hence you should only ever use RAW CACAO products. So, give this baby a whirl while you try and climb down the coffee dependence ladder, even if you don’t consider yourself dependent, try stopping for a week and see how you feel, you might be surprised how much it affects you without realising.

Try this!