What You Should Reach for (Instead of Coffee) in the Morning

For most of us, the day doesn’t start when the alarm goes off — it starts once we’ve had our first cup of coffee! While we all love that extra jolt of energy that coffee gives us, it does come with some downsides. Too much caffeine (four or more cups of coffee a day) has been known to increase your risk of depression, certain cancers, and anxiety. So the next time you find yourself needing a morning pick-me-up, reach for one of these delicious coffee alternatives instead.

Smoothies

Homemade smoothies are one of the best ways to eat a light breakfast that’s still packed with vitamins and natural energy boosters. If you’re new to smoothie making, be sure to add some berries to your drink. Not only are they sweet and delicious, but they’re packed with glucose — a substance that is easily metabolized and turned into fuel for your body.

Fruit Infused Water

One of the many reasons why people lack energy throughout the day is because they’re not hydrated enough. But, we get it — sometimes drinking water all day long can get boring. So, before you reach for an artificially sweetened drink, try creating your own naturally-infused water by adding your favorite fruits and herbs!

Cranberry Juice

What can’t cranberries do? From boosting heart and digestive health, to helping fight cancer, cranberry juice is the perfect drink to start your day. Just make sure you’re choosing authentic, sugar-free cranberry juice and not cranberry juice cocktail!

Tea

If you’re looking for something a bit warmer (and more reminiscent of coffee) to start your day with, tea is a great alternative to coffee. White teas are an especially good morning tea because they’re easy on the stomach and still contain just a little bit of caffeine. Plus, the antioxidants found in white tea have been known to improve your cardiovascular and oral health — who knew?

Hot Apple Cider

Apple cider contains no sugar, no cholesterol, and is low in calories — win, win, win! It’s also a great source of potassium and iron. And though many people enjoy drinking it cold, you can also heat it up so you still get the enjoyment of starting your day with a warm drink.

So whether you’re looking to cut coffee out of your life completely, or just want to limit yourself to one or two cups a week, you should have no problem thanks to these best coffee alternatives!