Affiliate Disclosure: Psssst… This blog post contains amazing links to some of my top favorite natural coffee substitutes that I am also an affiliate of. This means that if you end up clicking through and buying any of these products, you’ll be supporting both them AND me at no additional cost!
Making a morning cup of coffee is a sacred ritual for many. If you aren’t waking up and stopping by your favorite coffee shop in the morning or turning on your coffee pot and strategically adding ghee and your milk of choice, then the day just won’t be right.
My unpopular opinion: Coffee can actually be good for you!
You just don’t want to depend on it because it’s not real energy.
Just remember that Yogic and Ayurvedic wisdom teaches that everything is medicine or poison.
I find that this caffeinated beverage can sometimes get a bad rap, but when used in moderation it can actually bring you to balance depending on your dosha.
Coffee and the Kapha Dosha: A single black cup of coffee could be just the thing you need to stimulate your mind, elevate your mood, and get your body moving on a sluggish day. It’s also reported that coffee may be able to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, which are heavily affected by the kapha dosha. To keep your coffee medicinal, add a pinch or two of cardamom or cinnamon and avoid adding extra milk, cream, fats, or sugars.
Coffee and the Vata Dosha: Adding a heaping spoonful of ghee is a great way to savor your cup of joe! At times, the vata dosha can cause your brain to feel scattered and you may have a hard time concentrating. Drinking a grounding cup of coffee with plenty of healthy fats could help you center your energy and boost your ability to focus.
Coffee and the Pitta Dosha: Pitta dominant people have a natural energy source due to the extra fire in their system. Caffeinated drinks have the ability to push pitta out of control and could result in higher heart rate and blood pressure. Because of this, it’s important to moderate your coffee intake. Still, one cup in the morning every now and then wouldn’t hurt. To make your coffee more medicinal, add a pinch of alkaline-forming cardamom powder and avoid adding sugar.
So, now you know how to drink coffee for your dosha, but what if you want a natural coffee substitute instead?
When it’s time for me to get in gear, I have a few go-to products that never let me down. In fact, they bring me a sustainable burst of energy that makes me feel like I can take on the world!
Pretty great right?
It’s no joke! In today’s blog, I want to share some of my favorite adaptogenic energy boosters in hopes that they will become as essential to you as they have been to me!
But first…
What is an adaptogen?
An adaptogenic herb works with the system in a very interesting way. When your body is under stress, it’s a natural response to go into the “fight or flight” mode.
In this day and age, there are so many stimulants that trigger the fight or flight response. As it’s not sustainable, your body tends to go into a state of exhaustion – which is why you tend to crave coffee!
What most people don’t know is that there is an interesting sweet spot between fight or flight and exhaustion called the “resistance stage”.
During this stage, the body adapts to your current situation and works to sustain your energy for longer periods of time. Adaptogenic herbs are a great replacement or addition to coffee because they have the ability to keep you in the resistance stage for longer than normal.
Also, as mentioned in this Healthline article, “Adaptogens have the potential to help indirectly with other health issues, like pain, digestive concerns, insomnia, and more.”
Here are My Top 3 Natural Coffee Substitutes Jam-Packed with Healthy Adaptogens!
BOLD By Rasa
If you’re looking for a sustainable energy boost to add to your mornings, try a hot steaming cup of BOLD! I love it because not only does it offer a smooth taste, but it also happens to have 9 powerful adaptogens!
Ayurvedic Adaptogens in This Drink:
Shatavari has a cooling nature that helps to prevent the body from burnout. It’s also a commonly recommended aphrodisiac which means it has the ability to boost your libido and support a healthy reproductive system.
Shilajit is a resin harvested from Himalayan rocks. It helps to support healthy lung and kidney function and can be deeply detoxifying.
BOLD also contains adaptogenic powerhouses such as Rhodiola Root (one of my favorite brain and kidney-endurance herbs), Schisandra Berry (great for focus), and Gynostemma (known as “poor woman’s Ginseng” – only it’s even better!)
If Rasa BOLD feels out of your price range, try Rasa Calm or, my favorite, Cacao Rasa. It tastes so good (and sometimes I even mix them all together).
Morning Routine by Four Sigmatic
The fact their website describes this as “The best of nature for your daily routines” is just one of the many reasons why I love this drink! It gets my Ayurvedic self-care senses tingling!
Now, this one technically isn’t a coffee replacement. Instead, it’s a powerful mixture of coffee and adaptogenic mushrooms! If you are a fan of fungi then you’ll LOVE this coffee!
If mushrooms aren’t your thing, don’t worry. The dark, nutty flavor does a fabulous job of masking the mushroom taste and there are so many powerful benefits!
Adaptogenic Benefits of Chaga and Lion’s Mane:
– Boosts the immune system
– Reduces anxiety
– Supports a healthy liver
– Supports healthy brain function
– Chaga and Lion’s Mane have been used in cancer prevention
MUD|WTR
OK, I’m OBSESSED. Don’t let the name scare you… this drink is not only super delicious, it packs an energizing punch that is so totally Ah-Mazing!
At once motivating and grounding, this one may end up being YOUR favorite coffee substitute, especially if you like the spicy taste of chai as much as I do!
Ayurvedic Adaptogens in this Drink:
Turmeric’s main constituent is called Curcumin. When curcumin gets introduced to the body it’s adaptogenic effects help reduce stress and boost memory. Unlike coffee, it also has the ability to reduce inflammation which results from excess heat in the body.
Cinnamon is beloved (and renowned) for its blood sugar-balancing abilities. But did you know? It’s also incredible for circulation, digestive support, assimilation, and immunity.
Here’s the thing…
You can take all of the adaptogenic herbs in the world, but without a properly functioning digestive system, none of them will actually absorb into your body.
If you want to learn how to get the most out of your natural morning elixirs, then check out one of my cleanse programs! Seasonal cleansing is the number one tool I recommend for resetting your metabolism, healing digestive issues, reducing inflammation, and experiencing greater vitality.
Is there a specific drink that you want to know more about or just can’t wait to try? Share in the comments below!
