Want to go coffee free, but not sure what to replace it with

chicnsweet83
chicnsweet83 Posts: 97
edited October 3 in Food and Nutrition
Most mornings I am so tired and I feel the need to have some coffee. But coffee is horrible on my stomach, I wake up often with stomach aches. I've been finding that on the mornings I don't get a stomach ache that the previous day I did not drink coffee. I love coffee and the pick me up it gives me in the morning....so, what are some ways to stay off coffee but still get that pick up in the morning?
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Replies

  • Brannock8
    Brannock8 Posts: 170 Member
    For about 95% of the time I've switched to Green Tea, and I throw Ginger syrup in there. It's worked pretty well and is way better on my stomach.
  • Tereztaylor07
    Tereztaylor07 Posts: 200
    Strong hot tea? I don't really know though, I would hate to have to give my half a pot a day!
  • McKayMachina
    McKayMachina Posts: 2,670 Member
    I love the berry-flavored 5-hour energy. Seriously amazing.
  • melissa_leah
    melissa_leah Posts: 107
    tea with caffiene if your stomach can do that..?
  • EmilyAnn89
    EmilyAnn89 Posts: 564 Member
    i alternate between coffee and green tea in the mornings
  • JenOman
    JenOman Posts: 97 Member
    I gave up all caffeine about 8 months ago. It SUCKED big time in the beginning (like 3 weeks) but then I felt better and didn't feel the need for a pick-me-up in the morning, unless I skipped breakfast (which I rarely do).

    So you could try that.

    OR maybe add more milk to your coffee, that should cut the acidity.
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    I drink chai tea instead, or I add about 1/4 of the cup or more skim milk this seems to help
  • jagh09
    jagh09 Posts: 555 Member
    More sleep? :-)

    I find that tea with caffeine gives me just enough boost, and is much gentler on my stomach. And when I'm looking to taper off my caffeine addiction, tea is a good step down for me. Then I go to decaf or herbal tea, just because I like a hot drink in the morning.

    Other things that helped my get-up-and go in the mornings is taking a B Complex vitamin. My Gyn recommended it for my time of the month symptoms and stress. And my goodness, I notice a difference! When I take that at bed time I almost always wake up with a bit more pep in my step. I take sublingual drops.
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Strong hot tea? I don't really know though, I would hate to have to give my half a pot a day!

    you and me both! I find it hard to limit to 1 pot actually. Love the plain black sludge xD
  • czechsmate
    czechsmate Posts: 556 Member
    For about 95% of the time I've switched to Green Tea, and I throw Ginger syrup in there. It's worked pretty well and is way better on my stomach.

    I have been considering ditching coffee and switching to green tea....where do you find ginger syrup, it sounds tasty!
  • rmartin72
    rmartin72 Posts: 1,085 Member
    I'm having the same problem and wanting to stop drinking coffee and tea, I'm drinking a lot of water about 167 oz .
  • Justjoshin
    Justjoshin Posts: 999 Member
    I quit Coffee cold turkey and switched to water.

    100+ ounces of water a day.
  • kristilovescake
    kristilovescake Posts: 669 Member
    I'm trying to go coffee free too, but it's a slow change.

    Black tea is great for the initial change since it has more caffeine than green tea, and then switching to green tea since it's healthier.

    Also, drink TONS of water and pop a B-complex in the afternoon and it helps with energy levels throughout the day.
  • dieselveins
    dieselveins Posts: 65 Member
    Water the only way to go.. its proven the more water you drink the less tired you are in the morning
  • Meggie_pooh
    Meggie_pooh Posts: 316 Member
    I drink 1/2 caff coffee and sometimes tea when it's cold out...but mostly water all day. Have to stop drinking by 8pm tho or I am running to the bathroom ALL NITE LONG!!!
  • autumnridge
    autumnridge Posts: 97 Member
    I'm a tea lover. I like black, green, chai. General Foods makes a sugar free chai mix. One cup of tea in the morning and I'm good to go! Also, I have bought Folger's 1/2 Caff coffee for my husband. He says it tastes better than caffeine free and isn't as hard on his stomach.
  • tammylwv
    tammylwv Posts: 155 Member
    There is a product called Teechino...it is acid free and caffeine free. You can pick it up on their website or in a whole foods type store. It is very good. A friend of mine made some for me once and I like it. They have all sorts of flavors. I think the kind she made was the Vanilla Nut.
  • twilight5567
    twilight5567 Posts: 7
    Green tea worked for me when I gave up coffee, there's actually a good bit of caffeine in green tea....it's also helpful with weightloss.
  • cakemunch
    cakemunch Posts: 3 Member
    I don't have a problem with coffee but I regularly replace it with matcha... It has got loads of claimed health benefits including helping weight loss. I'm not sure how much I believe all the claims but I find it gives me energy like coffee does.
  • michelegrayson
    michelegrayson Posts: 157
    I worked with a nutritionist a few years back and she suggested that my first drink of the day should be gentle like warm water or decaf green tea to gently get the system started. I've been following this and it really works. Later in the morning I have my cup of coffee and sometimes if I'm sluggish, some green tea with cafeine (I like Tazo's Ginger Green tea).

    Hope this helps get you started!
  • Kany
    Kany Posts: 336
    I was dependent on coffee. I used to drink 3-5 cups a day. I had to quit because of gastritis and was wondering how I would be able to go a day without it. I thought I would die without coffee. I took it slowly. First I mixed half regular coffee and half decaf coffee and drink every morning. I started drinking green tea every day in addition to the half coffee/half decaf mix since my body need caffeine. It's mostly diluted though. 1 pot tea, 1 tea bag. I continue to ween myself off of the caffeine each day. Within a week I was just drinking decaf :sick: It doesn't replace coffee but it's a substitute. After a little over 2 weeks the coffee craving is gone and I don't need to drink that decaf yuckiness anymore. Now its Green tea all day every day!
  • dobarber
    dobarber Posts: 611 Member
    You can always substitute a glass of good old Orange juice for your morning coffee. It's actually supposed to have the same effects without all the caffeine. I definitely agree with all the water drinkers out there. Water is extremely important. I was a mtn dew drinker myself. A 2 liter a day at least. Now I'm down to 20 ounces of diet dew with the rest water. Good luck and keep it up!
    Doug
  • helenoftroy1
    helenoftroy1 Posts: 638 Member
    I went coffee free about 6 months ago. I drink green tea instead, it makes me feel much more fresh and alert instead of coffee which made me feel "buzzy" in the head and gave me the a false sense of alertness!!!

    Love me green tea!!
  • Brannock8
    Brannock8 Posts: 170 Member
    For about 95% of the time I've switched to Green Tea, and I throw Ginger syrup in there. It's worked pretty well and is way better on my stomach.

    I have been considering ditching coffee and switching to green tea....where do you find ginger syrup, it sounds tasty!

    I make it, easiest thing in the world. 1 Part Water, 1 Part Sugar (I usually use 1-2 cups each), 1 Ginger root sliced or grossly shredded. Bring the water and sugar to a boil then turn down the heat to a light simmer. Add in the ginger root and let it simmer for 25-40 minutes (big range, just depends on heat and quantity). When it gets lightly syruppy, strain out the ginger peices and store in the fridge. I usually had about 5-10cc's for 2 tea bags. Let me know if you need anymore info.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    have a big breakfast with bacon and toast and turkey meatballs and some ham, you won't miss the coffee and the protein is awesome
  • czechsmate
    czechsmate Posts: 556 Member
    For about 95% of the time I've switched to Green Tea, and I throw Ginger syrup in there. It's worked pretty well and is way better on my stomach.

    I have been considering ditching coffee and switching to green tea....where do you find ginger syrup, it sounds tasty!

    I make it, easiest thing in the world. 1 Part Water, 1 Part Sugar (I usually use 1-2 cups each), 1 Ginger root sliced or grossly shredded. Bring the water and sugar to a boil then turn down the heat to a light simmer. Add in the ginger root and let it simmer for 25-40 minutes (big range, just depends on heat and quantity). When it gets lightly syruppy, strain out the ginger peices and store in the fridge. I usually had about 5-10cc's for 2 tea bags. Let me know if you need anymore info.

    Perfect! Thanks so much!
  • kknudson
    kknudson Posts: 60 Member
    You could try switching up the type of coffee you are drinking. Different types of beans/roasting produces different acidities. You could look for a smooth, mellow blend. Or, actually, I think Folgers makes an easy-on-the-stomach ground coffee.

    Or, like everyone else is suggesting- green tea. Less caffeine, but it's comparable! Plus it's high in antioxidants and deliciousness. Make a double strength batch and ice it for yummy iced green tea. You can add fruit, citrus, honey or spicey flavors to your green tea very easily as well- they go together nicely.

    Someone else suggested Matcha, which is just a finely ground Japanese green tea- it's got a lot of caffeine because its rather concentrated. (It's what Starbucks uses to make their green-tea frappucinos (Which, when made to recipe, have a lot of sugar in them, so don't replace it with those...)
  • jessbennett1986
    jessbennett1986 Posts: 243
    I do a lot of water with this new flavor of crystal light. It's called wild strawberry and it's labeled energy. It definitely gives me my pick-me-up and I can get my water requirements in at the same time. Of course there are more ingredients and artificial flavoring than coffee that some people might discourage from since it isn't an all-natural beverage.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    coffee used to tear up my stomach bad, I couldn't give it up but I've found relief in doing something that feels completely unnatural: eating BEFORE I drink my coffee *shrug*
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    You could try switching up the type of coffee you are drinking. Different types of beans/roasting produces different acidities. You could look for a smooth, mellow blend.

    this is a really good point, being aware of where your beans are from and how they're roasted will help, so you can find something with lower acidity.....
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