Despite popular belief, there are college students that do not like coffee. Though they may be a minority, all coffee haters can rejoice because there are plenty of alternatives.
Not only do these alternatives give you the energy your average cup of joe gives you, but they are super healthy and have tons of nutritional benefits. So if you don’t like coffee or planning to drift away from this popular beverage, I have the perfect list for you.
“For individuals avoiding caffeine, fruit infused water is a great way to jazz up water,” said Aimee Orndorff, Resident Dietician of Gourmet Dining on campus.
It may come as a surprise since this drink is associated with relaxing, but tea is the closest alternative you can get to coffee.
Becca Leone, a sophomore marketing student, is a huge fan of tea, “I don’t drink coffee because I don’t like the taste, so I just drink tea instead because I feel like it gives me a lot of energy plus it has a better taste then coffee.”
There are tons of flavors for teas, which come with different caffeine levels. According to mayoclinic.org, brewed black tea contains the most caffeine, green tea is second, and white teas are third.
“Green tea, hot or cold, is a great option for individuals limiting caffeine as it typically contains half the amount of coffee,” said Orndorff.
As far as health benefits go, teas have been known to be good for the heart, lower chances of cancer, and decrease cholesterol. And if you need yet another reason to start drinking tea, it’s also super cheap.
If you feel overwhelmed on what teas to choose take some of Becca’s favorites into consideration, “I love green tea for the energy in the morning and chamomile tea at night because it helps me go to sleep.”
Next on the list is drinking smoothies and green juices. Smoothies that are made with real fruit and are all natural are a perfect way to not only supply your body with nutrients but will give you an awesome boost of energy without the jitters coffee gives you.
I recommend getting a smoothie with acai berries in it for the boost and better mental function, and for their great taste as well. Green juices are a great alternative as well even though this vividly colored drink intimidates many people.
According to mercola.com, since all the veggies in these drinks are in digestible form, your energy level increases in as little as 20 minutes.
For smoothies and juices I always love going to DR!NK Juice Bar in West End.
The final, and possibly most obvious, alternative is simple: leading a healthier lifestyle. Jordan Maly, a junior finance student doesn’t drink coffee or like coffee at all. “I feel more concentrated when doing school work or anything else without drinking large amounts of caffeine.” Since Jordan doesn’t drink caffeine he said to keep his energy up throughout the day, getting a lot of sleep helps out enormously and eating healthy works for him, as well as avoiding fast foods because they slow you down.
Though Jordan’s tips may seem simple, they hold a lot of benefits to not only your energy and alertness, but to your overall health too.
So if you are not a coffee lover but still want that energy for your early morning classes and late night study sessions, have some tea, make a fruit smoothie, drink a green juice, and try your best to lead a healthy lifestyle. In no time you’ll feel energized enough to conquer the rest of the semester.
