“Don’t talk to me unless I’ve had my morning coffee.” That’s a term you probably hear a lot. Coffee lovers are their own club, exclusive and you’re either a part of it or not.
Unfortunately, coffee is not the healthiest drink for you.
Coffee becomes an addiction, which means once you stop drinking it you go through withdrawals, and that’s not good. It’s also unhealthy to rely on it all of the time instead of your body’s natural source of energy.
A junior communications student, Shannon Oswald, said, “I don’t drink coffee but as a source of energy I feel it is more important to eat a good breakfast.”
Eating a well-balanced, healthy breakfast can keep you energized throughout your day, and unlike coffee, you won’t shut down.
One example of an easy and healthy breakfast is avocado toast on grain bread with a cup or water or orange juice.
Eating healthy snacks throughout the day can keep you full and energized.
That’s one of the problems with coffee, when someone has a cup, they crash a few hours after and need more.
When you have a good breakfast you don’t need anything else until your next meal.
Madison Uurarro, a junior social work student, said, “I drink passion tea with sweetener in it. It gives me enough energy and is also super refreshing.”
Passion tea or any type of tea is a great alternative to coffee.
Coffee can often ma ke you so energized you jitter or shake, when it comes to tea it will keep you calm and if you a sugar awake for a long night of studying.
If you do drink coffee, one problem could be the sugar rush that you feel.
If you’re like your peers, you may add mocha, caramel, cream, and sugar. Not only are you asking for a lot more calories, but you’re also asking for the effects to wear off sooner than later.
Another great alternative to coffee is water, specifically coconut water. Coconut water is a healthy drink that is quickly growing in trend.
People are drinking it because of the popularity that it is gaining, but there is actually a lot of great benefits to it. It’s naturally sweet, so there is no need to add anything artificial to it.
It also contains a lot of enzymes and rehydrating electrolytes, which keeps you energized making it a healthier choice than coffee.
If you’re looking for a way to start your day with energy, but don’t want to drink coffee, a great drink to have is water with lemon.
Water is the best thing for you, and the lemon adds lots of antioxidants that keep you healthy and energized.
Vitamin C plays a big role in your immune system, and is also great for clearing up your skin, and who doesn’t love that. Drinking juices or water can allow your body to get what it neaeds.
Another option to spice up your water is to add fruit to it. Cucumbers, mint, berries, and lemons, are all great ingredients to flavor up your water and keep you energized.
Alexis Nulle, a Specialist Professor, of Communication and Co-Advisor, of the university’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, said, “I have looked into alternatives to limit my daily caffeine intake and some experts recommend good old sparkling water, especially if you’re not a fan of plain water.”
Sparkling water is a great alternative to coffee, it keeps you hydrated and isn’t as boring as plain water.
Nulle added, “While it’s not the most exciting beverage to some sparkling water can be a refreshing alternative to coffee. Especially when it’s flavored with natural, sugar-free, fruit extracts, it can be both delicious and hydrating.”
Although coffee seems like a great idea to wake you up in the morning or keep you up writing a paper, it’s not the healthiest choice for you.
One simple way to stay energized is to make sure you’re getting enough sleep per night.
Water, teas, and even just a good meal can do the same if not better things than coffee.
Chewing gum is also an alternative because unlike many energy drinks, such as Red Bull, it does not come with all of the calories and sugar.
Hopefully you can get off your coffee addiction and learn these alternative tricks to keep energized.
PHOTO COURTSEY of Sabrina Carulli
PHOTO COURTESY of Colleen Moretti
