Discussion Board

Hi everyone,

I've been wondering as to what I can do to replace sugary caffeinated drinks. I seem to have serious issues with letting this go. I really enjoy having something hot to drink, but I don't know what to do! I want to have something to replace it so I don't find myself reaching for tea/coffee/juice and all those extra calories!

Thanks!

Have you tried herbal teas? I'm a fan of mint and ginger (powdered). I also make ginger tea from simmering sliced pieces of ginger in water for about 15 min. Mint tea made from fresh mint is even better than the dried stuff.
I also love hot water mixed with the juice of half a lemon.
In the summer I mix sparkling mineral water or club soda with the juice of half a lime or lemon. It's really refreshing. You can also add crushed mint leaves to it.
I haven't tried them myself but I have heard good things about teecino and barley tea.
My all time go to though is just plain old water.

My go to drink is almost always sparkling water. I look for very low sodium varieties.
f1jim

My personal favorite is lemon balm with mint, that I grow in my garden, fresh herbs used to make the drink, then add some ice to the glass.

Big fat DITTO. I like La Croix which is sodium, sweetener, calorie, and caffeine free. Awesome stuff for bubble addicts like me.

Teachino is great and you can brew it just like coffee. Dandy blend is also yummy and it's instant. You can also just purchase roasted dandelion root and grind and brew it like coffee.
I was a hardcore coffee addict since the age of 12 and teachino helped me quit.
Hot lemon water is also great and it makes you feel great too.

Naturally flavored seltzer water is my substitute for soda, it has the fizz without all the crap.

However, even though I have cut way back on coffee, I have not given up caffeine, and I have no immediate plans to do so. That's asking too much and I'll need to see some very compelling and detailed research concerning the harm of caffeine before I'll even give the idea serious consideration. For now I enjoy black and green loose leave tea almost exclusively.

IMO, if you're having trouble giving up caffeine, you should at least consider switching from soda to regular black or green tea. You'll give up the sugar and chemicals for a natural caffeine fix.

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I really appreciate it!

I will definitely try water with lemon in it. That sounds very refreshing!

As for green tea, I'm not too sure about it. First of all, does it have enough caffeine in it to be harmful? Secondly, I've heard that it can cause some people to lose their hair. Mine is already getting pretty thin, and I don't want it to get any worse (This could be caused by other things as well). Lastly, I've heard that it contains fluoride and that this can be a problem for the thyroid. Is this true, or does it depend on the type of tea that you get? So my question is, has anyone heard of these concerns?

Now, I have heard several good things about green tea. But the best part for me is, I can drink it plain and not need any non-dairy milk or sugar. If it stops me from drinking sugary teas, great! However, I'm not sure if it will make me crave these drinks more. I guess I will have to experiment and see!

Sorry for rambling on a little bit, I really do appreciate your suggestions!

Be well!

I like Celestial Seasonings herbal teas. My favourite is a rooibos tea flavoured with vanilla (can't remember what it's called but it has a lion on the box).

I've not heard of any of those issues concerning green tea. Billions of people in Asia have been drinking green tea for thousands of years--apparently without experiencing any serious harmful effects. I've always understood green tea consumption to be considered healthy (or at least not harmful). Maybe you're thinking of some other type of tea? Or maybe a green tea supplement (which I wouldn't use)?

Regarding caffeine, I believe green tea has less caffeine than regular tea or coffee. If you want the healthiest green tea, buy an organic variety; although, I don't think this is necessary.

Personally, I don't think you should spend too much time concerning yourself with this issue. If you like your caffeine buzz and you enjoy a hot beverage, then see if tea works for you. If you want it sweet, then you can try stevia; although, my advice is to go cold turkey and drink your hot beverages without any sweeteners. Just tough it out for a few days; you will eventually begin to enjoy the natural taste of whatever beverage you're drinking.

Dr. McDougall's take on tea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cobFlRRCG_g

Hi Santos, thanks!

I really liked that McDougall video you posted. I guess the big hurdle for me here is to give up the white sugar, which I know isn't good for me.

I'll definitely consider all your suggestions, I thank everyone once again for their responses!

Hab, the sugar thing is a bitch. In the mid-80's I used a lot of sugar in my coffee. One day I just stopped using it. And I had a very sweet tooth at the time. This is one of those food items that you will probably just have to muster your willpower and stop.

If you want a nice green tea with some flavor, try Tazo's Zen tea. It is green tea with lemon grass and spearmint. Damn good stuff and the flavors are something you wouldn't want to mask with sugar. It's richness almost makes adding sugar an afterthought. It's more expensive than the cheap stuff, but you're worth it.

White tea is lowest in caffeine and has a milder taste. I like it without any flavour.
Plain water is good with lemon, as already suggested, but you can also add a few fresh peppermint leaves to water. Don't have to eat them.

I just was reintroduced to La Croix, grapefruit flavored! Wow! What a great taste and it seems to fit the bill when I want something to drink

Green tea has just as much caffeine as any other tea.

Herbal teas are blameless as long as you drink them w/out added sweetener. Celestial Seasonings has MANY great varieties!

I pretty much drink water and herbal tea. That's it.