Ok, this is more like it Yvonne. I could order this. Is a tsp enough for a cup? Or do you make it stronger? I know I said I have just 1 and 1/2 cups of coffee, but I use more than a tsp per cup. Also, I have to remember this isn't coffee https://www.heb.com/product-detail/natural-touch-kaffree-roma-roasted-grain-beverage/102637
I use a rounded teaspoon, more for the iced coffee; but I am making a large mug of coffee with it, and when I make the iced coffee, usually a tall glass; so probably a 20oz glass of iced coffee, and I like the flavor stronger in that. You might be just as happy with using decaf coffee, and that way, it is still actually coffee, just not so much caffeine. I don't know if you like kefir; but it gives me energy first thing in the morning , and it is very healthy to drink since it is chock full of probiotics. I tried some from the store at first, and then learned how to make my own, and I really like the fresh homemade kefir. It is strange; but kefir perks me up in the morning, and at night, I have a glass before going to bed, and it is calming, and I go right to sleep.
I sip all day. Coffee in the morning, two, three cups; tea in the afternoon. I prefer black teas but I drank green tea occasionally all day. I recently ordered some Matcha Japanese green powdered tea. I've drunk it before but my son is on it now so I bought us both some online. I'd try tea, black tea first, say the English Breakfast, which is available everywhere in teabags. It's caffeinated but about half or less of coffee, Later try some green tea and or some un-caffeinated. Or not.
I have drunk (drank?) coffee daily, in large amounts, since my teen years. Only "unleaded". Astounded my nephew that I drank down a 2L bottle of Pepsi after a very hard day's work, and as he drove us back to Phoenix I promptly fell sound asleep! Narcolepsy? I fall asleep easily anytime. So, I have no idea how the "caffeine buzz" which keeps my wife awake half the night, actually works. "Conditioned" to the caffeine? Or, is the caffeine story "overblown" by common acceptance? Risking losing my, errr......what,.... position as a "story-teller" of honesty? I suppose the stuff affects folks in a variety of ways and degrees, on down to no effect at all. like me. Frank
Well this gives me two choices to start out, decaf, or if I decide to try out the Roma I've never heard of Kefir but I will google it. Funny how it gives you energy, but also calms you. I love trying new "healthy" things so I will check it out for sure
I think I'll stick to trying the decaf Bill, and I only have it in the a.m. I got in the habit of just drinking water during the day, and evenings. I will have juice if I decide on popcorn for a snack. Probably why the caffeine affects me so much because I haven't built up any tolerance to it. I started drinking the same amount in my 50s, none before that I do have tea in the cupboard, and maybe should drink more of it since it has such a calming effect on me. It's herbal, Sweet & Spicey (has cinnamon which I love). I can't think of the brand name off-hand. I'm dingy because I've been awake since 2:30 a.m. Could not for my life go back to sleep. I had a fruit smoothie lastnight about 8, big mistake. I think the fruit was just too much "sugars" and I didn't add any sugar. Oh wait, I did put some honey in it I don't know, just can't do sweet stuff at night.
Kefir is similar to yogurt, @Denise Happyfeet , so if you like yogurt you will probably like kefir as well. It is drinkable, and thick like buttermilk, and you can either drink it plain, or make it into a smoothie. It is expensive to buy it , about $3 per quart here, but very cheap and easy to make it once you have the starter packet or the kefir grains. We have a whole thread on here about kefir, started by @Terry Page , and it pretty well explains about what kefir is and how it helps you stay healthy. Here is the link to the thread, plus there is lots of information online. If you decide to try it, and have questions, just PM me and I will help you get started with it. It has helped me a lot. http://www.seniorsonly.club/threads/kefir.1971/
Ok, thanks Yvonne, I do love yogurt. My fave is the Greek God (I think that's it, strange name right) but it is the most natural I can find and still afford. It has the 5 live cultures and only honey for sweetner.
Kefir has a lot of protein and some healthy carbs, so it gives you energy in the morning. I usually add some frozen fruit into my kefir and flax smoothies, so that adds some carb energy as well. However, , kefir also is a great source for calcium, magnesium, as well as tryptophan, all of which are very calming on the nerves. So, it can help you wake up better and have morning energy, and still help you sleep better at night. One kefir smoothie fills me up so well, that it is all I need for breakfast. Once you have some starter, you can make your own fresh kefir by just adding more milk to the starter and letting it culture overnight. Since milk is only $2 per gallon at Kroger, I can make a lot of kefir for not very much money.
I'll look into this now that I found the Health Food Store @Yvonne Smith. I'm doing really well on some yummy decaf that I found there as well. It is really tasty, but this a.m. when I first got up, I had a caffeine withdrawal headache. I didn't get it yesterday though, and I just started the decaf Sat. a.m. I didn't have anymore regular coffee to mix it with so I went "cold-turkey". I haven't had much energy or willingness to do much but I did go for a 5 mile walk yesterday. Today I made it to church, then a trip to the store for some vegies, and home the rest of the day. No more headache though. I think I'll do ok getting off the caffeine. I bought some magnesium citrate today, and some Zinc. I've heard the Magnesium helps with nerves, and lots of other benefits. It would be great to have an all-in-one drink like you mentioned because my calcium is a separate cap now. So I am taking all the below right now, lol: Magnesium Citrate D3 Inositol Trader Joes Joint Support (MSM, Chondrotin, Glucosamine) Gingko Biloba zinc calcium Geesh, a week ago I was only taking 2 things I don't know, I'm mainly working on eating right, and also hoping for some relief from Tinnitus. I have aches and pains but my cardiologist told me one time that everything that was giving me problems had to do with my nervous system (or is it nerve system) so anything I can take that helps with the central nervous system I think will be good. And I do get a lot of exercise, and mostly vegies, fruits, grains, and protein. I just got away from most carbs except for the complex.
Ok, so now I am into decaf, bakers cocoa, a little vanilla extract, a little soy-milk, a little stevia just to sweeten it a bit. It's good, but I am trying my own recipe, creating one to taste. So we'll see if I get it right. I wanted to mention to @Yvonne Smith that I found Pacific brand Grain drink in the coconut milk, soy, almond milk area. I have no clue what it may turn out to taste like but the price was right for me. It's organic, and 7-grain.Omega 3s, Calcium, B6 and B12. I don't know, but it would be good for me, if the taste isn't too bad. Would have never tried it if you hadn't mentioned your grain drinks Thanks Yvonne
I want to contribute but what can I say? I am not a coffee drinker and from that I understand, coffee is addicting for I know a lot of coffee addicts, those who cannot rise and shine without caffein. Pardon me with that addiction word. So I guess it's just similar to smoking, a habit that is hard to break. One person I know who quit drinking coffee for health reasons had turned to fruit juice particularly the pineapple juice that is sour so it would give him a jolt. However, fruit juice is not recommended if you have an acidic stomach. But on second thought, coffee is also anathema for acidic stomach, right?
Hi Corie I am on straight decaf now, and it's easier for me because I only drank one, thermal cup of caffeine each morning since my 50s. Those cups are about 1. cups. So yes, I had some withdrawals, headaches, and feeling like I had little energy. I eat really good foods that I think was helpful, and I'm pretty fit. I think coffee is acidic, I think I read that somewhere because I had a stomach sort of virus while back, and wasn't drinking coffee at all because of that. Funny thing about that was, I never had a headache during that time. I'm finding I can give myself a headache if I eat fruits, late at night, well, like after 9 that is. Things like smoothies can cause that, and they have yogurt, blueberries, and bananas in them. Oh, also drinking cran-pomagranate juice will give me a headache in the middle of the night, or morning. A couple of aspirin fixes those, but I still don't like waking up and having a headache By the way, good for you not getting into the coffee habit. I just loved the way it smelled in the mornings when I'd be visiting my sis, so I started up late in life, but it took hold pretty fast
Good to know you're trying about tea to replace coffee. In treating addiction like caffeine, these processes have been effective to many in treating caffeine addiction as well as other types of food or drink addiction: Gradually start in getting caffeine off your system. If you say you have been used taking 2 to 3 cups, try to gradually lessen it to 1 1/2 or 1 until your system accepts your new dosage. Limit your choice to only one type. If its coffee, let it only be coffee. This will serve as a trainer to your taste buds to only limit its craving to just one type of taste. Variety could only mean more and many to explore. Substitute with the next best alternative. If in your case, green tea or other herbal drink works for you then switch to it, otherwise try other alternative or substitute to your coffee indulgence.
Hello Amie, and welcome, at least I think you are new, but I don't get on much. I am doing great now. I have but about 1 Tbsp of caffeine to the rest decaf. Some days I just go with decaf alone, but late afternoon still have a little headache. Pretty much over it though last couple of days thank you for all your input, and hope to spend a little more time here. Waiting on a desk, and chair, that will be much more comfy for me than I am set up right now Denise