Instead of reaching for that extra cup of coffee, Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa in Koh Samui, Thailand, has some healthy alternatives to help cut your coffee consumption in the New Year and to reap the health benefits.
Monday: Need a coffee for a much required Monday morning wake-up? Why not try Rosemary, Oolong or Green tea, which is a much healthier alternative for awaking the body. Rosemary tea awakens you in the morning and improves memory. Oolong tea contains caffeine and thenaine which helps improve memory function, enhance thinking ability and maintain long term healthy blood pressure levels. Green tea also contains caffeine and theneaine, which has many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, increasing insulin sensitivity and can enhance mental alertness.
Tuesday: Does no coffee consumption = a major headache? In the afternoon, try Kamalaya’s Green Zinger (a fresh detox vegetable cooler) which contains celery, lemon, green apple and carrot, ideal for relieving headaches and reducing high blood pressure while encouraging a calming effect. Peppermint tea also has a cooling agent and can help to reduce headaches.
Wednesday: Run down mid-week and need that coffee fix? Keep your energy flow up during the day with fresh coconut water, a powerful detoxifying agent that replenishes the body and helps regulate blood sugar levels, soothes the stomach and improves digestion, promotes weight loss and strengthens the immune system. Vegetable and fruit juices can also help to alkalize the body and are a good source of antioxidants and are a healthy alternative.
Thursday: If by Thursday you’re still craving a coffee or that extra boost, why not try bitter melon tea, it helps to balance the blood sugar, lower cholesterol, with a low gylcaemicindex and can ensure a balanced energy flow throughout the day.
Friday: Replace your Friday coffee with a green tea – an awakening, yet calming alternative to coffee. The goodness of green tea has been uncovered – research has shown that approximately 30 – 40 minutes after drinking green tea, a state of deep relaxation and mental alertness is created.
If you are a troubled sleeper and cutting out coffee still doesn’t aid in a better night, you can calm down the central nervous system with a lavender or liquorice tea which helps promote relaxation and is an ad-aptogen which aids in relaxation. Mulberry Leaf Tea is also very rejuvenating as it naturally supports the body’s production of the human growth hormone. It has a calming and soothing effect on the mind and also enhances sleep quality. It is also high in natural occurring ‘GABA’, a neurotransmitter that makes us feel alert, but calm so it’s another great replacement for coffee.
Karina Stewart is the Co-Founder of Kamalaya and a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
