Coffee Substitutes – How Much Coffee is Too Much and What to Replace It With?
Aside from water, coffee is the most popular drink in the world.
For so many of us, nothing beats the aroma of a steaming cup of coffee. With its high antioxidant content, coffee even offers potential health benefits.
But along with the potential benefits of coffee, some individuals experience side effects. In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look at the caffeine content in coffee and how it may be affecting you.
Side Effects of Coffee Consumption
With the average cup containing roughly 90 to 100mg of caffeine, coffee is a popular beverage for a quick pick-me-up. Caffeine, a stimulant, can temporarily increase focus and decrease fatigue. However, some people experience unwanted effects from coffee consumption.
Although it depends on the individual and the amount consumed, the caffeine content in coffee can lead to mild to serious side effects, including:
- Disrupted sleep
- Headaches
- Negative effects on blood pressure
- Diuretic effects
- Increased anxiety
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Restlessness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Can have addictive properties
- Can lead to withdrawal symptoms (i.e. irritability, exhaustion, brain fog, etc.)
- Heartburn
Roasted coffee beans are also a source of acrylamides, a potential carcinogen. The small amount of these compounds found in coffee has not been proven to cause any harm. Still, some individuals prefer to avoid coffee for this reason.
How Much Coffee Is Harmful?
Wondering how much coffee should you be having? While it depends on a variety of factors, the consensus is that drinking up to 4 cups of coffee daily is most likely safe for the majority of individuals. More than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily may lead to side effects.
Who Should Avoid Coffee?
For the majority of adults, mild coffee consumption is considered an acceptable part of a balanced diet.
However, certain individuals need to be careful about how much coffee they drink or avoid it altogether.
The following groups should avoid coffee or limit their consumption:
- Women who are pregnant or nursing
- People with anxiety disorders
- People who struggle with insomnia or other sleep disorders
- People who are sensitive to caffeine
- Individuals who are easily overstimulated
Which Is More Harmful Coffee or Tea?
Both coffee and tea boast impressive antioxidant properties. However, if you are more sensitive to caffeine, tea can be a good coffee substitute.
If you do consume tea, pay attention to anything you add (i.e. milk, cream, sugar, flavourings). A healthy cup of tea can quickly turn into a sugar-laden, calorie-heavy treat if you pack it full of milk and sugar.
What Is the Best Coffee Substitute?
Ever guzzled a cheap energy shot, felt a jittery buzz, and then crashed back down? With hundreds of cheap energy shots on the market, these caffeine-packed drinks have become one of the most popular coffee substitutes.
If you are looking for a kick energy hit, it can be tempting to reach for an energy shot for a quick boost.
However, many energy shots contain alarming amounts of caffeine, putting users at risk of unwanted side effects. Energy drinks are often packed with excessive sugar, artificial sweeteners, and artificial colours.
It can feel impossible to find a clean energy shot or energy drink, which is why Isagenix set out to make the meanest, cleanest energy shot in existence.
With naturally sourced caffeine, no artificial ingredients, and potent plant botanicals, Isagenix e-Shots feature a dose of clean energy, straight from Mother Nature.
Benefits of the Isagenix E-Shot
Advantages of Isagenix’s E-Shots include:
- 80mg of naturally sourced, plant-based caffeine from Green Tea and Yerba Mate for clean, sustained energy
- A unique blend of adaptogens and botanicals, including Ginseng, Mountain Ash Berry, Hawthorn Berry, Eleuthero Root, Schisandra Berry, and more
- No artificial flavours, colours, or sweeteners.
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan
- Convenient and easy to use, with a small size that makes them easy to keep in your pocket, car, desk drawer, purse, etc. so you always have a dose of energy on-the-go
Benefits of Naturally-Sourced Caffeine
Regardless of the source, too much caffeine can be harmful. However, when caffeine is consumed in moderate amounts, like those found in Isagenix’s natural energy shots, it can provide benefits.
The moderate amount of naturally sourced caffeine in E+ has been shown to:
- Support an Increased Metabolism — Caffeine can provide a natural metabolism boost, helping you burn more calories and progress toward your weight loss goals.
- Support Improved Endurance and Performance — Moderate caffeine doses can help athletes train longer and harder.
- Help Enhance Focus — Caffeine is proven to boost mental focus and fight fatigue, helping you stay sharper and more alert through busy days.
Best Times to Take an E+ Natural Energy Shot
You shouldn’t take more than two e-Shots a day or too close to bedtime. Aside from that, you can enjoy e-Shots:
- When you need an instant boost of energy
- To jumpstart your day
- As a plant-based coffee substitute
- To prevent the mid-day crash
- When you’re trying to complete a deadline
- Before a workout
- When you need to fight stress or fatigue
Want To Learn More About Coffee Substitutes?
If you’ve been looking for the best coffee substitute, we highly recommend e-Shots. With a proprietary blend of botanicals combined with a small dose of plant-based caffeine, e-Shots allow you to fuel up without the dreaded crash.
If you have more questions about coffee substitutes or would like personalised product recommendations, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.