We all know people who have never taken to coffee and can face the world each morning with shimmering exuberance. I am not one of those people. Photo: amenic181
No matter how I start my day, it is always a little better with a strong cup of kick-me-in-the-ass — that’s just the honest truth. For years, coffee was my drink of choice. And for years, I would shake myself into the late afternoon hours, fending off heart palpitations with each additional cup of black crack. At some point, I started dosing myself at the first sign of fatigue, even if the sun was already set. I never considered that maybe my body was trying to tell me something important, that maybe some rest was warranted. It wasn’t until regular bouts of insomnia took hold that I really took a critical look at my habits.
The reality is that caffeine is a drug, a powerful one and the worlds most widely preferred form of self-medicating. Yes it comes from a plant, but so does cocaine and heroin. Not that coffee belongs in the same category as these two highly destructive drugs, but it does shed light on how we choose to manipulate our consciousness in one way or another with a steady drip.
For those of us who partake in action and adventure sports — activities that tend to stoke the adrenaline fire all on their own — relying on exogenous sources of energy that artificially turn on our fight or flight response may not be the best pattern to get fixed in. By nature, our tolerance for excitement is a little beyond that of the normal person. And desensitizing our natural instincts is pretty much the opposite of how most of us want to operate. Instead, we should focus on understanding and honing in on our bodies’ natural energy systems.
While there are some highly touted benefits to drinking coffee, namely the high antioxidant content, the same level of antioxidants are present in decaf. Additionally, while some energy drink companies may claim to give you the ability to fly, the performance boost from caffeine is really best suited to endurance activities of the low-intensity-long-duration variety. In sports that require fine motor skills — such as rock climbing or mountain biking — caffeine has actually been shown to decrease performance. The last thing we need is caffeine induced tremors when reaching for that next hold or approaching the rhythm section.
At the molecular level caffeine mimics adenosine, the neurotransmitter that tells the body when it is tired; it binds to the adenosine receptors blocking the adenosine from being taken up. While most of us think of caffeine as giving us energy, it is actually blocking our bodies natural indication that we are getting tired, essentially putting a wood block behind the brake of our bodies natural energy system. This blockage also causes the release of hormones and the artificial excitement of neurotransmitters, most notably dopamine and norepinephrine (the latter acts as both hormone and neurotransmitter).
By now you are cursing me: “Coffee is great and you’re an asshole with your anti-caffeine agenda!” I know the feeling. I personally love coffee, but I came to realize that I had forgotten what life was like when I let my endogenous energy systems run their course.
Thus, if you are a coffee drinker and have thought about kicking the habit or you really just like the ritual of the warm cup and the cafe culture but would prefer a healthier alternative then consider these options below.
Teas & Adaptogens
I have no affiliation with any of the brands mentioned and have personally found these to be the most effective coffee alternatives through arduous and painstaking trial and error.
Photo: Brent Hofacker
Matcha Green Tea
The powdered green tea is used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It has a higher EGCG content than other varieties of green tea and is also high in the amino acid L-Theanine which promotes stress reduction and relaxation and is the perfect compliment to small does of caffeine that Matcha does provide. Because it is a powder it also goes great in smoothies and juices. This stuff is pretty expensive so you might want to give it a try before you buy.
Pu-erh Tea
The dark fermented tea leaves that make up Pu-erh have a distinct taste different from other varieties of tea. If steeped just once the tea packs a wallop of a buzz so it is typically recommended to toss the tea from the initial steep and then start drinking from the subsequent brew’s. This tea has been shown to have positive effects on cholesterol and is a favorite of New York Times best selling Author and prolific bio-hacker Tim Ferriss.
Photo: Aneta_Gu
Yerba Mate
The secret is out on this one. This stuff is more popular these days as a soft drink than it is a traditional tea however that does not change the fact that for people who cannot handle the caffeine in coffee, Yerba Mate is the preferred potion. While it does contain some caffeine it is also high in Theobromine which is the primary stimulant in cacao and tends to produce a smoother and longer lasting buzz than the jitter producing caffeine prevalent in coffee. In addition to the synergistic stimulant cocktail that Mate provides it is also flush with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that many people cite as the true benefit of the traditional South American beverage.
Photo: Townshend’s Tea
Orange Zephyr from Townshend’s Tea
This herbal variety is an adaptogenic tea as it contains a generous kick of ginseng and licorice root extract. Townshend’s Tea is out of Portland, Oregon and I discovered this tea during my most recent exodus from the world of cappuccino and dirty chais, seeking refuge in a tea house where I knew I could not fall victim to temptation. Ginseng is a powerful adaptogen that helps to improve the body’s response to stress and creates a focused mind free of over stimulation and withdrawal. Licorice root is helpful in stimulating the cortisol cycle in a way that helps to reset the rhythms. This brew is available on the Townshend’s Tea website.
Photo: REBBL Tonic
I discovered these over various trial and error trips to the health food store looking for a cold pick-me up that wouldn’t leave me shaking into the night. As opposed to stimulants these drinks provide healthy doses of adaptogenic herbs like Maca, Ashwagandha, and Ginseng. Adaptogens as the name implies help our bodies adapt to stresses rather than bulldozing our stress response. My personal favorite is the Reishi Chocolate, it tastes like a chocolate bar and does truly reawaken the senses. The elixirs have a coconut milk base making them dairy free and full of healthy fats. REBBL makes it a point to avoid problem ingredients at all costs so you can enjoy your drink without worrying about the healthful trade-offs. These are available in many health food stores in the Western United States.
Photo: Swapan Photography
Tulsi Tea
Also known as Holy Basil, Tusli is one of the best adaptogens for recovering from our stressful lifestyles and giving our bodies and mind a reprieve and recharge. Organic India probably makes the most wildly distributed Tusli Tea and it comes in both caffeinated and caffeine free variates. My personal favorite is the chai blend which provides a nice calm energy and focus, great for mornings when no stimulation is required but the need to fill the ritualistic void is palatable. Available at most health food stores.
Photo: artefacti
Now there is a time and a place for higher doses of caffeine. For short duration explosive exercises that do not require finely tuned movements, caffeine has been shown to boost performance. It is also a useful tool for traveling across time zones when there is no time to naturally reset the biological clock. For athletes who regularly consume caffeine and are looking to gain some of the benefits in sport performance from it’s nervous system stimulation, it is generally recommended to slowly cut out all caffeine leading up to the event with at least four caffeine free days prior to competition. The important thing to note here is that athletes should use caffeine, in any form, as a tool and not abuse it trying to squeeze the most out of every session everyday.
It is also not lost on me that different people react differently to coffee consumption. I personally am very sensitive to the stuff while close friends of mine can go from a pot a day to cold turkey with little struggle. The point is we are all different and it is important to know your body’s tolerance for powerful stimulants. Genomic science has recently shed light on the coffee issue and it turns out that caffeinated coffee can either be your medicine or your poison depending on your genotype. The CYP1A2 gene can come in one of two types, fast or slow. If you have a fast copy of the gene then your body is capable of metabolizing coffee more readily and you receive all the healthful benefits that coffee has been said to have. If you have the slow copy of the gene then the caffeine sticks around longer and you are at a higher risk for certain ailments and caffeine is best to be avoided. This information can only be attained through genetic testing and it has nothing to do with how you feel when you consume a caffeinated beverage. Just because you feel jittery and crappy after some coffee is not an indication of one type of the gene or another, there is much more at play with that. Just something to keep in mind.
