In a few conversations lately, people have brought up to me that they're giving up coffee; and they always say this with a pang of melancholy. I know it's a hard one to quit! I think a lot of people give up coffee simply because they've heard it's "bad for you" or maybe they feel truly addicted and dependent, and want to break that cycle. Whatever your reason may be, I've got some seriously delicious replacements.
So, first off - why do we quit drinking coffee? Well, most beans are shit quality and full of mycotoxins/mould that have some pretty nasty effects on your brain + immune system. If you do drink coffee, make sure you do a little research and are getting the best quality beans available. Coffee contains two compounds that may raise your LDL cholesterol, but it is pretty insignificant. I wouldn't be too concerned unless you already have high cholesterol.
Coffee is a mild diuretic, and does dehydrate you slightly but not to the degree most people believe, so I wouldn't even consider that point an issue. The caffeine content can force some people into stimulant dependence. If you're tired, and are drinking coffee to wake up - stop. Stimulants aggravate your adrenals glands, force them to spike your stress hormones and burn you out even further. This can over-stimulate those with anxiety/attention disorders, OCD and this just creates a vicious cycle of exhaustion. In turn, it makes some people wired and plagues them with restlessness and insomnia - for which they need more coffee the next morning, and so on.
Now that you know some actual reasons coffee may not be the best for you, here are some replacements! Even if you replace a few coffees a week with these, I'd argue you're doing pretty well 💕
1. Heat one cup of almond mylk in a sauce pan or a frother - you can use whatever milk you want, but dairy will rob some of the nutrient quality.
2. Combine one heaping teaspoon of peeled + chopped turmeric (or powdered turmeric),
one teaspoon of peeled + grated ginger, two teaspoons of ghee or coconut oil and one tablespoon of sweetener like coconut sugar, monk fruit sugar or mesquite powder in a blender/processor
3. Add the warm mylk or milk, if you insist, to the blender/processor and blend all these amazing ingredients together
4. Pour into your cutest cup and take an Instagram picture
This mixture is so anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidizing, healing, gut health supportive, brain nourishing + provides sustainable energy
You can also find turmeric lattes at The Our Daily Brett sister cafe,
Neighbour in Altadore
1. Heat 3/4 cup of almond mylk in a sauce pan or a frother - again, use any nut mylk or real milk, whatever tickles your fancy babes.
2. Place one heaping teaspoon of matcha powder into your favourite cup, and then carefully whisk in 1/4 cup boiling water, followed by slowly pouring in almond milk. If you pour it in at an angle like a fancy barista, you'll get that cool aesthetic foam
3. Add in a sweetener of choice, like coconut palm sugar, mesquite powder, raw stevia or monk fruit sugar
This mixture is full of anti-oxidants, l-theanine which is great for reducing anxiety while increasing clarity, focus and cognition; it always slows the release of caffeine into the bloodstream for longer more stable energy!
You can also find great matcha lattes at Philosafy, Monogram
+ unique flavours of match at Ollia!
1. Four Sigmatic, available at Community Natural Foods, Amaranth and Blush Lane - have made this process very easy. They have individual packets that you simply open and mix into boiled water
2. Other mushroom powders are available from many brands, also easily found at the Light Cellar, Community Natural Foods, Amaranth, Blush Lane, Planet Organic for which you can also just mix them into a cup of boiled water and add a sweetener of choice. If you happen to have raw Chaga, Lion's Mane, Turkey Tail, Reishi (etc.) you can also just boil the mushroom to release the compounds and consume this a coffee
3. You can also blend mushroom coffee with nut mylk or milk, but they are more commonly kept "black"
Mushrooms are diverse, and have too many benefits for me to list, but they are neuroprotective, immunostimulating, memory + focus, anti-oxidizing, provide sustained energy, adaptogenic (good for stress) and so much more
You can find a Chagacinno and any mushroom tea your heart desires
at Wild & Raw in Kensington
1. Combine one tablespoon of coconut butter, one teaspoon of coconut oil, one teaspoon of lucuma (optional), two teaspoons of raw honey (use alternate sweetener if vegan or if honey ain't your jam), a pinch of Himalayan sea salt, one cup of heated mylk or milk or mushroom tea (oooh, we getting fancy now), one teaspoon of Blue Majik powder or E3 Alive, and the juice of half a lemon (this cuts the deep sea smell + taste of the algae powder)
2. Blend these bad ass ingredients together and pour into a clear cup, because it's going to be blue and super cool looking, and you'll want to take a picture
Blue Majik and E3 Alive are blue algaes that nutrient dense, vegan sources of vitamin B12 which are few and far between, high in minerals like magnesium which is great for brain health, rich in amino acids and enzymes
You can find a Blue Majik Latte at Wise & Wright on Stephen Avenue
1. Steep black tea or chai tea with 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger powder, 1/2 tsp each black pepper, ground cloves + cardamom. You can also use buy fair-trade chai tea already steeped at Community Natural Foods.
2. Once tea is steeped, froth or blend together with warmed nut mylk or milk and sweetener of choice.
3. Pour into mug over a strainer (to catch any remaining leaves or spices)
4. You can make this ultra creamy by blending with soaked cashews or coconut cream
These spices are amazing for blood sugar balance, cognitive function, thermogenesis and good digestion.
You can find a delicious Chai Latte at Analog, Higher Ground + Rosso Coffee Roasters
Careful: When ordering one, ask for no or less sweetener
Careful: When ordering one, ask for no or less sweetener
I hope you find these replacements delicious (which I know you will), but if you're absolutely dying for a cup o' Joe - at least make it good quality + Bulletproof! Add collagen peptides, ghee or coconut oil, MCT/Brain Octane and any other health booster you can think of!
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