Why I gave up Coffee for Tea

it’s hard to know what is up and what is down nowadays – one day you’ll read an article that coffee is good for you and the next it could be the cause of early death.  So what is the truth with all this contradictory information out there? 

First I want to talk about a VERY important word you are going to see me use a LOT in my business: 

Bio-individuality: “is the idea that each of us has unique food and lifestyle needs. It is the understanding that no food philosophy or diet can yield the same results for everyone. There are many factors that contribute to your well-being, including age, gender, ancestral background, lifestyle, and your unique needs and personal preferences. This explains why diets that focus on a current “trend” are difficult to sustain and don’t work for everyone. Identifying your specific nutritional requirements is part of the learning process on your wellness journey.”

So what I am trying to get at is NO ONE DIET is perfect for everyone.  We all have different makeups, different genes, different environments… so while giving up coffee may have been a good idea for me – you might be just fine drinking your daily cup of joe.  

My experience with giving up coffee

For me giving up coffee was LIFE CHANGING.  I had no idea how much my one cup a day was contributing to my lingering anxiety problems.  I have always struggled with stress, I haven’t yet found out how to have a lingering to-do list and to not feel anxious about it.  With the lack of routine I experienced in the last year (from all the travel on the road touring) I felt like I could never catch up.  Take that stress and combine it with my caffeine consumption, I felt CONSTANTLY in a state of fight or flight.  I decided to detox coffee from my system and switch it for tea for 30 days to see if it was a contributor to my anxiety.  The moment I had a cup after being 30 days sans I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest.  From there I decided that the way I felt was more important than the enjoyment I got from the taste of that almond milk latte. 

It took me so long to switch to tea because I never really enjoyed the taste – I was the person who thought “who in their right mind would choose TEA over the delicious nectar of the God’s – Coffee?!”  I had tried matcha lattes, golden milk, herbal tea… I just never liked it all that much.  That is when I started experimenting with my own blends and found that I liked tea more when it’s iced and less fragrant (I am not a huge fan of lavender or floral tasting teas).  So I began brewing my own tea at home, mixing in my superfoods, adding honey and THEN pouring it over ice; I even found pre-mixed canned matcha that I could add to my herbal blends so I could still get a little caffeine boost without the jitters.  I enjoyed it this way far more – and what made me even more encouraged to keep the switch going was the fact that I could mix in all my superfoods so I could get in a variety of different vitamins and minerals.  Down the road, I plan on sharing how I make some of my own blends but in the meantime, you can find some different killer blends HERE. 

After a week sans coffee, I noticed a few things: 

• my anxiety had lessened tremendously
• I saved a lot of money (I was spending around $7 a morning on coffee including the tip versus on the high end $1 on tea) 
• I had a lot more energy, no more afternoon crashes

So how do you know if your life would be improved by giving up your daily cup of coffee? 

The way we respond to coffee has a lot to do with our genetics and how we metabolize caffeine.  For me, I can tell my body feels anxious after just one cup but for some, they could easily fall asleep at night after having an espresso post dinner. 

If you’re experiencing: 

• fatigue
• restlessness 
• heart palpitations 
• anxiety 
• adrenal fatigue 
• high levels of stress

you may be a good candidate for a coffee detox.  

Just like any other food that you think there is a chance you are having an intolerance to, you can benefit by starting an elimination diet for at least 21 days.  This will give you an adequate amount of time to see if when you add it back into your daily routine if you have some sort of adverse reaction. 

NOTE: for those of you who drink more than one cup of coffee a day – I suggest you start by cutting back before completely eliminating.  Start off by tapering back to one cup for a week, then a half a cup, and then none altogether.  During this time of detox, I suggest getting lots of water and rest.  To help maximize the benefits of your detox try adding in exercise, saunas, and meditation so your body can combat the effects of stress.  

Why is tea so good for me?

1. TEA CONTAINS ANTIOXIDANTS.

Antioxidants are important for protecting us from damage, age, and disease.  Tea is loaded with antioxidants (especially Matcha – one  serving of matcha tea is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regular green tea, meaning it has 137 times more antioxidants than the regular green variety)

2. TEA HAS LESS CAFFEINE THAN COFFEE.

If you choose an herbal blend of tea it has NO caffeine, and even many regular green teas have 50% less caffeine than a cup of coffee.  Matcha tea has 25mg of caffeine per serving in comparison to coffee which typically has 100mg but it also contains L-Theanine, a molecule that has been shown to improve alertness and cognitive ability (similar to coffee) without the jitters.

3. TEA MAY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE

Some studies have shown that those who drink 1-3 cups of green tea daily had a 20% reduced risk of heart attack and a 35% reduced risk of stroke PLUS a lowered LDL cholesterol level.   Don’t have the time to drink 3 cups of green tea in a day?  Just drink 1 cup of matcha for the same benefits.

4. TEA MAY HELP PROTECT YOUR BONES

Moringa tea (or moringa powder) has been shown to have more calcium than milk PLUS it contains healthy levels of iron, vitamin A & K, making it AMAZING for keeping bones strong (who needs milk?!).

5. TEA MAY KEEP YOUR SMILE BRIGHT

Some research has shown that tea can change the pH of your mouth while drinking it, this, in turn, can help prevent cavities.  It has also been shown that tea does not appear to erode tooth enamel but it will stain your teeth similarly to coffee so try and drink your tea through a  straw.

6. TEA MAY BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Teas such as Holy Basil Leaf or Tulsi tea are great for keeping the immune system strong since they have strong antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.  Holy Basil Leaf tea is also amazing for those who get regular cold sores (and it also helps diminish stress levels).

7. HERBAL TEA MAY SOOTHE THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Teas like chamomile are good for IBS and ginger and peppermint tea have been shown to help settle upset stomachs.  There are pre-made blends that also are made specifically for better digestion like this one HERE.

8. TEA — UNADULTERATED, THAT IS — IS CALORIE FREE

Tea alone contains zero calories, making it a great alternative beverage option to sodas and sugary coffee.  You can get natural fruit flavored teas that will taste sweet without the added calories.