If you aren’t into coffee, you’re not alone. Whether it’s the taste, the number the acid does on your stomach, or a strong case of the jitters, plenty of people are looking for a way to kick-start their get-up-and-go without turning to a cup of joe.
Luckily, you have more options than just schlepping through the day, eyes half shut. There are some great natural ways to boost your energy that don’t rely on coffee to get the job done.
Natural Energy Boosters
Ashwagandha
One of the most popular herbs in Ayurvedic healing, Ashwagandha brings a slew of benefits to the table. Both traditional use and modern anecdotal stories cite its ability to improve concentration and brain function while helping you keep de-stressed. For men, it’s touted as a testosterone booster that can help you get stronger and more virile.
It can also have a moderating effect on blood sugar to keep you from getting on that up and down roller coaster of highs and lows after meals and snacks. Widely available in both raw forms and in drink powders and capsules, it is a fast, easy way to get your energy levels up and keep them there.
Vitamin B12
B12 is so effective at reducing fatigue that prescription amounts are available from doctors for some conditions as a quick pick-me-up injection. If needles aren’t your thing, that’s fine. Over-the-counter supplements are available at health stores and in the vitamin section of most grocery stores.
Often available as part of a broader B-supplement or separately in a variety of forms including sublingual tablets, these oral supplements are powerful, easy to use, and can help your body feel ready to seize the day.
Green Tea
Tea enjoys a much higher respect level as a morning beverage outside the U.S. It has many benefits for detoxing, features less caffeine than an equivalent sized cup of coffee, is packed with healthy antioxidants to help detox your body, and contains theanine, which helps keep those caffeine jitters at ba
If you aren’t into hot beverages, pour it over ice, mix it with some favorite fruits, or add cucumbers to help your body hydrate. If all else fails, your local health food store should have supplements containing green tea, often with other peppy ingredients, such as the Ashwagandha mentioned above.
Kratom
Kratom is made from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, a relative of the coffee plant that grows throughout Southeast Asia. Traditionally used by indigenous peoples for pain relief, the lowering of stress, and increased awareness and focus, it’s been in the news lately as a potential aid to those trying to kick an opioid addiction.
Available in powdered and capsule form, a morning cup of Kratom tea may be just the thing to get your gears turning.
CBD
Cannabidiol is one of over 100 active compounds found in the cannabis plant, but not one of the ones that will get you high. Long-tainted by its close relation to its more psychoactive sister THC, it has only in recent years been recognized at the federal level as a separate and legal derivative of the industrial hemp plant.
You’ve seen CBD everywhere, from specialty shops to corner stores, and probably heard miraculous tales of its many uses. For many people, they turn out to be not that far-fetched. CBD makes a great addition to your detox. It can help improve focus, relieve stress, and is already a popular additive in trendy coffee houses across the country.
Eat A Healthy Snack or Meal
Did you think all the tips for natural energy boosters would be about magic potions and miracle pills? If your batteries are fading, recharge them with a quick protein snack. Nuts, a boiled egg, or some quinoa can give you the protein your body is looking for.
Meanwhile, some healthy carbs like a small number of oats, bananas, apples, or citrus fruits can give your muscles the sugar they need to function without the over-processed junk that tends to stick around on hips and thighs.
Exercise
No groaning! Get up and move your body. As we sit at our desks, pounding a keyboard for eight hours, our alertness takes a hit. Instead of coffee, take a movement break every hour. Depending on your mobility and threshold for stares from your coworkers, a couple of squats, a plank, or a little jogging in place can do wonders. Failing that, walking in pace and stretching your major muscle groups can get the job done.
There are plenty of ways to find the pep in your step without turning to the office rotgut. Use these natural energy boosters to get you back in the game!
About the Author:
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry, collaborating with industry insiders and designers, getting insight on the latest trends.
