Coffee Alternative?

maria_harlequin · 02-09-2010, 04:34 PM

I can't drink coffee because my heart goes insanely crazy with coffee and I'm left with feeling like a nervous wreak the whole day but I'm in a serious need of something to wake me up during the hot, warm afternoons when I need an energy boost to work and dance. Any suggestions? Coke usually wakes me up pretty well but I try to avoid as much soda as I can. I hate feeling sluggish!

Jujube · 02-09-2010, 05:51 PM

Vitamin Water (the energy one with caffeine) is pretty good.

Cheaper and simpler--I take half a caffeine tab when I need a boost. I hate coffee but caffeine really helps some days.

Iced tea might work for you, if you like it.

lizaj · 02-09-2010, 06:14 PM

There is no substitute for coffee only better coffee, I'm afraid..says she grabbing her shkin' hand

Cheart · 02-09-2010, 06:21 PM

Green tea actually. You can also get decafinated green tea so you won't risk having any heart issues

Jujube · 02-09-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maria_harlequin

I can't drink coffee because my heart goes insanely crazy with coffee and I'm left with feeling like a nervous wreak the whole day but I'm in a serious need of something to wake me up during the hot, warm afternoons when I need an energy boost to work and dance. Any suggestions? Coke usually wakes me up pretty well but I try to avoid as much soda as I can. I hate feeling sluggish!

Btw, I have two toddlers and frequently feel sluggish, so I feel your pain!

Ffraid · 02-09-2010, 09:30 PM

I've never been a coffee drinker so I don't know how good a replacement it is, but I find that peppermint tea always wakes me up when I'm feeling sluggish.

Gia al Qamar · 02-09-2010, 09:58 PM

I have ZERO tolerance for caffeine...even really good dark chocolate leaves me awake all night...
But...at the risk of my caffenated sisters throwing their empy Starbucks containers at me...try suppliments with vitamin B (esp B12)!

maria_harlequin · 02-10-2010, 05:02 AM

Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to try the tea and the B12 supplements...I really do hope this works out.

I hate feeling sluggish.

adiemus · 02-10-2010, 05:14 AM

If it's caffiene that increases your heart rate etc the be aware that tea, hot chocolate, and many of the 'energy' drinks with guanine, taurine in them also contain caffiene.
If you're sensitive to coffee, you may find tea has a lesser effect, but it still has caffiene in it!

If you're feeling sluggish, check that it's not because of low blood sugar levels mid-afternoon, and that your fluid levels are maintained via ordinary water.

You can, if you are careful, make coffee, but make it very weak. The problem with it is that it's an artifical 'energy' and doesn't last - you end up irritable and still tired! If you're going to eat, then make sure it's a complex carbohydrate or a protein - something that takes a while to digest. This way it will increase your blood sugar, but won't do it rapidly, and the energy boost will last longer (and taper off more slowly).

I do a lot of sleep education as part of my job (and I've been a shift worker!) so the use of coffee is something I have learned about as part of my work! We sometimes have people come in and say they can't sleep, but when we ask about how much they drink they have 2 - 4 litres of coke as well as coffee and tea, and often just before bed!

Shanazel · 02-10-2010, 04:17 PM

I have been drinking too much caffiene in any form and then cut back on it abruptly, I get headachy, sluggish, and out of sorts. It takes several days of a decent diet and plenty of water to bring me out of the withdrawal, and then I feel just fine.

02-09-2010, 04:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
maria_harlequin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 960	Coffee Alternative? I can't drink coffee because my heart goes insanely crazy with coffee and I'm left with feeling like a nervous wreak the whole day but I'm in a serious need of something to wake me up during the hot, warm afternoons when I need an energy boost to work and dance. Any suggestions? Coke usually wakes me up pretty well but I try to avoid as much soda as I can. I hate feeling sluggish!

02-09-2010, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cheart Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 567	Green tea actually. You can also get decafinated green tea so you won't risk having any heart issues __________________ um..... (insert some great signature here)

02-09-2010, 09:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gia al Qamar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern NJ New Jersey Posts: 693	I have ZERO tolerance for caffeine...even really good dark chocolate leaves me awake all night... But...at the risk of my caffenated sisters throwing their empy Starbucks containers at me...try suppliments with vitamin B (esp B12)! __________________ www.IDreamOfGia.com Shows & Classes by NJ Belly Dancer Gia al Qamar * VOTED FAVORITE NJ TEACHER by NJBELLYDANCING!

02-10-2010, 05:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
adiemus V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 1,780	If it's caffiene that increases your heart rate etc the be aware that tea, hot chocolate, and many of the 'energy' drinks with guanine, taurine in them also contain caffiene. If you're sensitive to coffee, you may find tea has a lesser effect, but it still has caffiene in it! If you're feeling sluggish, check that it's not because of low blood sugar levels mid-afternoon, and that your fluid levels are maintained via ordinary water. You can, if you are careful, make coffee, but make it very weak. The problem with it is that it's an artifical 'energy' and doesn't last - you end up irritable and still tired! If you're going to eat, then make sure it's a complex carbohydrate or a protein - something that takes a while to digest. This way it will increase your blood sugar, but won't do it rapidly, and the energy boost will last longer (and taper off more slowly). I do a lot of sleep education as part of my job (and I've been a shift worker!) so the use of coffee is something I have learned about as part of my work! We sometimes have people come in and say they can't sleep, but when we ask about how much they drink they have 2 - 4 litres of coke as well as coffee and tea, and often just before bed! __________________ I don’t want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance. George Balanchine

02-09-2010, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jujube Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 418	Vitamin Water (the energy one with caffeine) is pretty good. Cheaper and simpler--I take half a caffeine tab when I need a boost. I hate coffee but caffeine really helps some days. Iced tea might work for you, if you like it.

02-09-2010, 06:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
lizaj Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 4,247	There is no substitute for coffee only better coffee, I'm afraid..says she grabbing her shkin' hand

02-09-2010, 09:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ffraid Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5	I've never been a coffee drinker so I don't know how good a replacement it is, but I find that peppermint tea always wakes me up when I'm feeling sluggish.

02-10-2010, 05:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
maria_harlequin Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 960	Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to try the tea and the B12 supplements...I really do hope this works out. I hate feeling sluggish.

02-10-2010, 04:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shanazel Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rocky Mountains USA Posts: 8,397	I have been drinking too much caffiene in any form and then cut back on it abruptly, I get headachy, sluggish, and out of sorts. It takes several days of a decent diet and plenty of water to bring me out of the withdrawal, and then I feel just fine.