Sunday, January 10, 2016

Why You Might Prefer A Coffee Substitute

By Sharon Olson


Drinking coffee is something many people do, no matter where they are from, be it first thing when they wake up to any time during the day. It is such an integrated part of many people's day that it is somewhat of a cult phenomenon, with a number of chain stores opening up to fuel the demand. However, a lot of people have recently been turning to a coffee substitute for various reasons.

As well as it being trendy, people drink this hot drink because, let's face it, it tastes heavenly. Others drink it at specific times of the day to help them wake up, or for an extra boost of energy. This is particularly the case for anyone wishing to pull an all-nighter on a special project or schoolwork. Furthermore, the beverage does have certain health benefits, contrary to what some may believe.

The drink, when consumed on a regular basis, can actually decrease the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. It has also shown to have some effect in preventing certain diseases, particularly Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's. There are lots of antioxidants found in coffee as well, and everyone knows that antioxidants are good for the body.

Even though some benefits have been mentioned, the truth is that there are also potentially harmful effects of drinking too much. Consuming caffeine can severely affect the way you sleep, which on a whole will affect how you operate. Trying to stay awake by drinking a cup or two may help for that purpose alone, as your focus might be affected. That's pretty counterproductive when you think about it. Additionally, when you rely on coffee for energy, you actually inhibit your body's ability to use its natural reserves.

Substitutes for this drink have become more and more popular in recent years for a number of reasons. First of all, there is the addiction aspect, which is never a good thing. Caffeine increases stress hormones. It can also be an expensive habit, with substitutes proving to be cost-effective overall. Additional reasons for choosing a substitute could be religious, or simply for the purposes of creating recipes that kids would enjoy.

Substitutes are available with many different ingredients, so there is something for everyone no matter what their taste. Vegetable-based substitutes include carrot, asparagus, beetroot, sweet potato and potato. Additionally, there are version made with molasses, almonds, acorns, dandelion root and wheat bran. It is a very long list.

Preparation of a substitute does not differ that much from the real thing. Some are prepared just like tea, coming whole and steeping them in hot water before consuming. Some come in powder form and are dissolved into hot water. Others come ground just like coffee and are for brewing, such as chicory.

Popular substitutes include Ayurvedic Roast, Teeccino and Dandy Blend. Ayurvedic Roast gets points based on the flavor, which is comparable to the real thing. It is also completely organic. Teeccino is a herbal, gluten-free option with no soy or caffeine. Dandy Blend, meanwhile, is an instant coffee option which is made of healing herb dandelion root.




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