Hi Everyone! I know it has been a while since my last blog but I've been so busy with school that finding the time has been somewhat difficult. But know that it has always been on my mind ;) Based on my hectic schedule I've tried to find ways to keep my energy going and made a pact to stay away from developing a coffee addiction, like many other students in my cohort ;P So I've tried different things and here's what I have to say.
When you're macrobiotic you try to avoid caffeine as much as possible, this includes heavier caffeinated teas like green tea and black tea. But if your body is telling you that you need the extra kick every now and then to help you get through your long day, like me with classes from 8am-7pm with only 45mins lunch break in between :S, then having a caffeine fix is much needed. However, try your best to stay away from coffee (120mg of caffeine per cup) since this is the most extreme source you can get it from. Especially if you've been off coffee for a while it' best to start off in lower doses of caffeine to see which one gives the boost you need with the least amount.
Black teas are are one of the strongest caffeine sources besides coffee. This organic earl grey (always go for organic tea when possible) was mountain-grown in India or Sri-Lanka. It has a wonderful aroma and banks in at 50mg of caffeine per cup. It gets its flavor from natural bergamot oil, a citrus fruit grown in Bergamo, Italy.
I thought this tea did it's job, but would of definitely tasted better with some sweetener in it. Although it seemed to wake me up right away it left me with dry tongue and an unpleasant dizziness at the end the night. So it definitely gets some getting use to but it's such a beautiful product. Look at the individual tea bags it comes in! This is a very elegant tea and maybe a little too formal for my taste.
Next up is Green tea. This is probably the next step up from the traditional macro choice of Kukicha tea. Only thing is that, like Kukicha which has some caffeine, I feel like green tea does not really do much for my energy. It is a great option besides coffee though and very accessible, you can find it everywhere. Don't get me wrong, the taste is amazing and it has a lot of health benefits. Green tea has an antioxidant called catechins which has been linked to anti-cancer activities.
But for some reason I seemed to have the opposite effect where it relaxed me more than woke me up.
But for some reason I seemed to have the opposite effect where it relaxed me more than woke me up.
 |
| This bulk tea bag version is available at Trader Joe's! |
Finally, the newest thing I've been trying is called Yerba Mate. Known as having the same "strength as coffee, with the health benefits of tea, and euphoria of chocolate," this sounds too good to be true. It's naturally caffeinated with 150mg/serving with essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, 5 Complex, and Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, and much more. It's a powerhouse. But with the highest caffeine content it's probably the least macro. The taste is also very strong and distinct, with a woody/smokey flavor, not like tea at all. However I found that this gives me just the right amount of energy and caffeine if I steep it for just a few seconds. Definitely worth a try.
Be sure to monitor your energy level. Don't routinely take these in the morning if you have adequate energy to begin with. When your energy begins to fall is when you should take these. Also try to alternate between these caffeinated and decaf alternatives to avoid desensitization.
If you're not a follower of Alicia Silverstone's blog The Kind Life, log on and see what she has to say about some caffeine alternatives. Amazingly, I had no idea she would blog about this as well around the same time haha so it's great to have additional sources ;)
