What to do when Joe doesn’t love you back

ust about anything passes for tea these days, despite whether or not it actually contains tea leaves. If there aren’t actual tea leaves in the mix (whether black, white or green) it’s not actually tea. But we call it ‘herbal tea’ just the same. A teabag full of chamomile flowers or dried mint leaves steeped in hot water is just as delicious as a milky chai. Try jazzing it up with a tiny bit of local honey or a splash of almond milk if you’re not loving it right away.

Not only does this comforting combo alkalize the body & aid digestion, it also detoxifies & boosts the immune system (hello vitamin C!). Plus, you’re starting the day off with something to hydrate your body (which has been drying out all night!) rather than further dehydrate it. That in itself helps with elimination, skin & nails, plumping up the cushions between your vertebrae and aiding headaches. The idea of having a hot drink to lure me out of my cozy bed helps too.

A common coffee substitute, the root of this plant is roasted & ground up, then brewed for a beverage with a roasty flavor similar to coffee. Be careful not to overbrew or steep though, much less is needed per cup than coffee. A great alternative to a cuppa joe that supports your liver health too!

A roasted plant based blend that tastes just like coffee. A great substitute for that rich roasty smoothness of your favorite beverage -and without the bitterness! There are many benefits to dandelion which are retained in this product as well as plenty of trace minerals. Available in health food stores.

Brewed just like coffee, this South American plant has numerous health benefits. It does however contain some caffeine- about half as much as coffee, and it also contains other compounds which people may react to differently. There’s a lot of conflicting research out there that you can review & make up your own mind about. It may be an option to help adjust your body to consuming something with a lower level of caffeine in it in the interim.

While attempting to kick the caffeine habit, most people give decaf a try. It’s probably the simplest alternative for one looking to take caffeine out of the equation without sacrificing their beloved brew. There are many different ways to remove caffeine from coffee beans, though the process itself is unnatural and often involves chemical solvents. Even coffee labelled as being decaffeinated naturally is processed using ethyl acetate (used in glues, nail polish remover & is an additive in cigarettes). It is able to claim to be natural due to the fact that ethyl acetate can be produced fro natural sources (though for efficiency’s sake, synthetic is used). If you do choose to drink decaffeinated coffee, ensure you know how it has been processed so that you’re not doing more harm to your health than you would otherwise.