Posts Tagged ‘habit’
I would like to begin by acknowledging that I love coffee. But too much coffee, especially over the years is not good for anyone. In recent years I have tried to reduce or completely stop. Stop is quite difficult to do for most people. Sometimes I managed to stop, many times I did not. It seems that every new year I would make the resolution to stop or cut down on coffee. What has worked best for me was cutting down my cups of coffee to one a day (sometimes none) and to pay a good herbal energy tea or energy supplement.
There are several herbal teas and herbal energy supplement I would recommend to people who want to kick the coffee habit. Here are six that are useful when trying to reduce or quit coffee completely.
Yerba Mate. This is number one on my list. Yerba Mate helps you wake up and get out of bed, just like your cup of coffee. Yerba mate is mainly in Argentina. Its leaves and stems provide a fairly smooth green tea. It is also finding its way into dietary supplements and natural energy. It is somewhat less potent than coffee and much gentler on the stomach. Most think it has a soft taste and is not too bitter. Yerba mate is a natural source of energy and green tea, Yerba Mate is rich in polyphenols. Yerba mate contains minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese. According to Wikepedia and Florida International University, Yerba Mate contains caffeine. Florida International University has studied the Mate, and found to contain caffeine. However, they agreed that many people seem able to tolerate Yerba mate better than coffee. Yerba Mate users often claim that they can sleep easy after drinking buddy. They also report feeling more focused and alert when you drink it. I have used yerba mate almost daily for the past ten years and would keep. The discomfort caused by too much coffee as nervousness, constipation and upset stomach is not a Yerba Mate habit. It is a great coffee substitute for me.
Green tea. Green tea has become very popular in recent years as a rich source of antioxidants. (I think there are many species of plants not yet discovered food sources that provide the same large amount of antioxidants.) Green tea is loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The caffeine content in green tea is much less than in coffee and once again does not seem to give most people in panic. Many believe that it is a much healthier alternative to coffee. It has also been investigated several times and said to have several other health benefits including healthy weight loss, helps keep cancer away, and also gives you an energetic impulse. You’ll find green tea (a more potent form of tea leaves) in many weight loss supplements and energy. Drink green tea instead of coffee requires little time to get used to. If you are a heavy coffee drinkers do not give up coffee 100%. I have grown appreciate a good cup of coffee and both green tea. Most agree that drinking green tea is much healthier than drinking coffee.
Guarana. Guarana is an herb found in South America, mainly in Brazil. It has a very unique flavor and contains nine Guara, which is chemically identical to caffeine. I often prefer Guarana, as it releases its energy much more slowly than caffeine. Again, less jittery than coffee and may still benefit from increased energy and improved mental alertness. Guarana is the herbal tea and many soft drinks in South America, mainly Brazil. It enhances the taste of cola soft drinks and also provides a stimulating effect on recovery. Guarana is gaining popularity in the U.S. and is found predominantly in the supplementary form. I think Guarana is a great safe substitute for coffee in the short term, but it is still a strong stimulant and may disrupt some people’s stomachs.
Ginseng. Ginseng is often used by athletes, runners, cyclists and weight lifters with the intent to improve stamina and overall energy. I encourage Ginseng more of a tonic to support overall energy consumption more than to be an energy booster. Used over a long term, it is said to be good for the immune system, regulate blood sugar levels, improved mental awareness, increase a sense of well being, improve sexual function and improve both mental and physical performance. Ginseng has been used for many years and many investigations are still ongoing. I think it is a good tonic sure to add you to complete the list. I do not think you can substitute for ginseng coffee if you’re a daily coffee drinkers.
Maca Root. Maca root from a plant found in Peru with a radish as the root stock. Maca Root, another South American herb is considered a superfood by many. In fact, the maca root is used in a variety of drinks and food recipes in the native language of Peru. Super Food means that Maca is a nutrient dense food items. Rich in potassium and calcium are also maca is a natural hormone balancer for both men and women. Maca root extract is used to increase strength, energy, endurance and overall energy levels. Maca is just becoming popular supplement form in health food stores and seen as an ingredient in a number of new, healthy weight loss supplements and natural energy. Several studies have shown that Maca root is a hormonal balance Adaptogen. Like ginseng, it has also been shown to support and help to restore the adrenal glands, which produce adrenaline (our energy works.) Maca root also increasing in popularity, it is better known as a libido enhancer than a substitute for the morning coffee. You will begin to see Maca is shown in energy supplements and natural flavor enhancers mood.
They Bugre Cha. They Bugre Cha is the newest energy herb from the Amazon to make it go to health food and supplement stores in the U.S. Cha Bugre is a small tree found in Brazil, which gives a small red fruit resembling a coffee bean. Cha Bugre they are known to contain caffeine, potassium and allantoin, an antioxidant. In Brazil, the Cha Bugre used for years for weight reduction, increased energy, cellulite reduction and the natural appetite suppressant. They Bugre Cha has quickly become the “New Ephedra” by bodybuilders and athletes. Cha Bugre they are in the form of tea and the additional terms and likes yerba mate, is doing a good option for the morning coffee. It is very popular in gyms where bodybuilders use it to burn fat and increase energy efficiency.
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We have a Cuisinart grind and brew machine at home. It is really nice and sits on the counter. I looked at the bank account online and saw that my husband has gone to Starbucks 4 out of 5 days this week on his way to work. Granted it is like $4. 85 per trip and he’ll probably go on the weekend too. Over the course of a year, that comes to over $1200. Coupled with going out to lunch on average of 3 days a week at around $7 and a $20 a week tobacco habit. It’s about $3,300. In a 365 day period it is close to $10 a day that he is spending.
Granted he’s the bread winner and makes most of our money, it still makes me angry because there is so much else we could be doing with $3,300. I’m not a wife that shops all of the time and I maybe get to go out to lunch with my friends twice a month. I know he has to eat, and the chewing habit isn’t something that is going away anytime soon. (I’ve flushed brand new cans of Copenhagen down the toilet). What can we do to trim this down?
We’re not struggling financially. I don’t have to work but I’m a photographer on the weekends because I enjoy it. The money I make is chunks of $200 here, $600 there. During the week I stay home with our 6 month old son.
I want to max out the IRA every year. We have similar goals in putting away substantial money in money market accounts and keeping around $15,000 in savings. Save for the baby’s 529 etc. Smart people have money because they don’t blow it on Starbucks nearly everyday.
eharrah1 – I’m sorry I have to disagree with you. He makes the money and I’m in charge of managing it. Between the two of us we make about $6,000 a month. I bring home enough to cover a $615 car payment, the power bill, the cable/internet. We don’t own our own home, so that’s a big goal as well.
Boutique feeds shopping habit
Kasia Slodkowska has a problem … she loves to shop.
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