From adaptogenic herbs to lifestyle choices, here are 5 healthy coffee alternatives that act as natural stimulants without depleting or stressing out your body!
Struggling with energy and wish you could find something that would stimulate your energy and help you focus… other than a cup of coffee or energy drinks full of caffeine?
So is Jody!
She wrote in asking for help for her autistic son who is having trouble focusing. His therapist recommended he start drinking coffee, and Jody would prefer to find a healthy coffee alternative instead.
So… are there non-coffee stimulant alternatives? Yes!
And on today’s #AskWardee, I’m sharing 5 of them, plus many recipes. Keep reading or watching below to learn more!
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Table Of Contents
The Question: What Are Alternative Stimulants To Coffee?
Jody B. asked:
Dear Wardee, I’d like to know your best ideas: my 24-year-old son’s therapist wants him to start drinking coffee to get the caffeine to stimulate his brain. Which is to help him focus.
He told her he has a hard time focusing. She says he shows classic signs of ADD. He has been diagnosed with high functioning Autism.
We do not want him on pharmaceutical drugs. Instead, we’d like to find natural ways to stimulate his brain to help him focus.
My son also made an interesting observation. Maybe that’s why he smokes cigarette to stimulate himself with nicotine. He wants to quit smoking, but has not been able to. He likes how it calms him and he can focus a little better with it.
We would like to find better ways to help him stay calm and be able to focus. Do you have any alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs, drinking coffee, or smoking cigarettes? We want to find healthy alternatives and that are cost effective solutions and easy to do?
I’m open to natural, cost effective, easily accessible ways to stimulate my son’s brain. Thank you for your time, knowledge, and help. —Jody B.
Jody, thank you for your question!
Because we’re featuring your question today’s #AskWardee, you’re getting a gift — a FREE eBook and Video Package! Our team will be in contact with you so you can choose which one you’d like!
What’s Wrong With Caffeine?
I’m not a doctor and I can’t give medical advice. I can tell you that I would hesitate in using coffee/caffeine as a stimulant as well.
Why? Because a caffeine boost comes with its fair share of side effects and problems, including:
- potentially negative effects on the thyroid and adrenal glands
- feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or “the jitters”
- heart palpitations
- insomnia
- not to mention, becoming tolerant and needing more and more of it to function over time (addiction)!
So, in my opinion, it’s a great idea to seek out alternative stimulants.
Before I get into the 5 healthy coffee alternatives, I would first suggest looking into a root cause of your son’s focus issues…
The “Mood Cure” Book
In addition to offering a clean, whole foods diet and using traditional food preparation methods to ensure maximum nutrition and digestibility, perhaps it would be helpful to look into whether or not there’s a nutritional deficiency that’s making your son’s focus issues worse.
Many brain issues like mood and cravings can be tied to amino acid or other brain deficiencies, according to Dr. Julia Ross, author of the book The Mood Cure. The book addresses all kinds of mood issues, from anger to depression, to stress to the blahs.
The book’s flyleaf summarizes the help the book offers:
Julia Ross’s plan provides a natural cure for your mood. Drawing on thirty years of experience, she presents breakthrough solutions to overcoming depression, anxiety, irritability, stress, and other negative emotional states that are diminishing the quality of our lives.
Her comprehensive program is based on the use of four mood-building amino acids and other surprisingly potent nutrient supplements, plus a diet rich in good-mood foods such as protein, healthy fat, and certain key vegetables.
Including an individualized mood-type questionnaire, The Mood Cure has all the tools to help you get started today and feel better tomorrow. –about The Mood Cure
My personal experience is that the amino acid supplementation protocols in this book really work and the solutions are inexpensive.
5 Healthy Coffee Alternatives… Boost Energy Naturally!
Having said that, I do want to give you my recommendations for healthy coffee alternatives … because whether or not they will help your son, Jody, we all need more energy, right? And turning to the caffeine in coffee or energy drinks isn’t the best choice. 🙂
So… here are 5 natural non-coffee stimulants that can reduce fatigue, boost energy and brain function, and increase attention span!
1. Endorphinate
The first thing you might want to look into is the Endorphinate supplement formulated by Dr. Steven Crain, a psychotherapist who has spent decades researching how chronic imbalances in stress-related parts of the nervous system can cause anxiety, depression, etc.
Now, yes, before you ask: this supplement does contain caffeine. 🙂 I’ll explain why it still makes this list as a healthy coffee alternative!
Dr. Steven discovered that the combination of caffeine and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) can increase attention span and focus while also helping calm the body. This means that, in taking Endorphinate, your son can receive the stimulant effects of caffeine without its anxiety-inducing effects. Plus, caffeine is non-addictive when paired with NAC!
You can learn more about Endorphinate (including which form is best for your son) by reading, watching, or listening to my interview with Dr. Steven Crain here. He has some very interesting things to share about the benefits Endorphinate can have for children with autism, ADD/ADHD, OCD, etc.
2. Matcha
Matcha is like green tea but better, because the tea leaves go through additional steps to make it more nutritious. It’s got antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and nutrients.
It does have caffeine, but less than coffee, and it’s a slow release so there’s not a huge high or crash.
In addition, if you buy a quality matcha, like this one from Perfect Supplements, it will have high levels of the energizing amino acid L-theanine which is helpful in calming stress.
Perfect Supplements matcha powder is actually a blend of both matcha and the superfood moringa, thus why they call it “matchinga”. I think it tastes great!
And it’s some of the best quality matcha you can buy (it’s really important to get good matcha, otherwise it’s a waste of money).
Tip: Get 10% off your matcha order from Perfect Supplements by using this link and the coupon code TCS10 at checkout. Or, if you’re a premium member of Traditional Cooking School, you can save a bit more using your members-only coupon that’s in the member area. Plus, you can save even more if you buy 3 or more of Perfect Supplements “Perfect” branded products, even mix-n-match!
Use “matchinga” powder in these recipes for a healthy coffee alternative!
3. Maca
Maca is an ancient food used by indigenous Peruvian sheep herders who noticed that when their sheep consumed it, they were hardier, healthier, and more fertile.
Increased energy levels and a powerful punch of vitamins (specifically C, D, and B vitamins), minerals (like magnesium, zinc, potassium, and copper), amino acids, and fatty acids, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to maca.
The Maca Team, our favorite source for high-quality maca, offers this really delicious Morning Motivator powder that’s a blend of maca and cocoa powder. It comes in a sweetened or unsweetened variety; you just add hot water!
To consume maca, add the powder to warm beverages or smoothies, or even use the powder in the recipes below!
- Maca Gingersnap No-Bake Treats
- Black & White Maca Mocha
- Vanilla Maca Cooler {with vanilla-infused ice cubes!}
- 30 Maca Recipes {so you can get your superfood on!}
Looking For Maca?
You’ll want to seek out high-quality organic maca that’s as fresh as possible, and packaged to preserve nutritional quality.
At Traditional Cooking School, we’ve investigated maca sources, and we’re really excited about The Maca Team‘s maca because it’s “beyond organic”.
Their Peruvian farms (with farmers paid fair wages) follow traditional agricultural methods such as giving the land rest and using natural fertilization methods. This is good for the land and great for the food that’s grown on it.
Also, their maca is fresh! They process and sell small batches from only the current year’s harvest, so you receive it with a few months of it being harvested.
(As opposed to larger producers who move it in huge shipping containers, where your maca could be sitting around for 2 years before you actually get it to eat it.)
Finally, their raw maca isn’t heated above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore preserving the enzymes and nutrients. (They have a pre-cooked gelatinized maca for those with a sensitive stomach.)
Then it’s packaged in foil-lined double-sealed opaque bags or sealed amber jars to ensure that the maca’s potency isn’t reduced by light, humidity, or oxygen.
The Maca Team‘s maca is simply premium quality, and we can tell by how much better we feel when using this maca than other brands.
Read more about The Maca Team’s maca here. Or, go here to start shopping now.
4. Water
Yes, water!
This may seem like a silly coffee alternative, but proper hydration is essential! Your body needs water for everything.
When it doesn’t have enough, your digestion, metabolism, brain function, and yes, even energy suffer!
Studies show that even mild dehydration (1% to 3% of body weight) can impair many aspects of mood, brain function, and energy.
How much water should a person drink each day? The minimum is a half ounce per pound of body weight. So for someone who weighs 150 pounds, 75 ounces of water. Since there are 8 ounces in a cup, 75 ounces is about 9 cups, as a minimum.
Please, please be drinking, cooking, and washing in uncontaminated water!
Did you know that there are over 2,100 known water contaminants? They can really mess up our health, from our hormones to causing cancer and more.
We recommend water filtration systems from Radiant Life. Whether you rent or own, they have permanent or temporary solutions that will give you and your family really great water you can feel good about drinking!
Look through the Radiant Life water filtration systems right here and use coupon code WARDEE to get $25 or $100 off, depending on the size of the system you choose. Or, go here to find out which water filtration systems we use in our home (and why).
Image courtesy of All The Nourishing Things.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to get hydrated in the morning, and keep it up all day long:
- Hydrating Sugar-Free Lemonade
- Pineapple-Carrot-Turmeric Spritzer — The main enzyme in pineapple is bromelain, and it’s super-charged with energy. Now add turmeric for a hormone-balancing, anti-inflammatory, and energizing drink!
- All-Natural Energy Boosting Drink
- Chia Seed Natural Energy Drink: Chia Fresca — A traditional Mexican Indian drink, chia fresca (or iskiate) has been used as endurance energy for thousands of years.
- Turmeric Tonic with Coconut Water, Ginger, and Honey
- Refreshing Electrolyte Energy Drink (Lemon-Mint & Coconut-Lemon-Lime)
- A Coffee-Free Morning Pick-Me-Up — Take a shot of apple cider vinegar in the morning as a coffee alternative!
- Detox Drink for Daily Enjoyment and Cleansing — Sip on a fruit-infused water to facilitate natural detox and boost your energy.
- Thyroid Anti-Inflammatory Energy Tea — Nourish your thyroid from the inside out!
5. MCT Oil
My friend and contributor Megan already schooled us on the amazing benefits of MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil here: Why & How To Use MCTs {reduce belly fat & improve thyroid function!}.
Medium-chain triglycerides (aka MCTs) are digested easily and quickly travel to your liver where they are used as an immediate source of energy. A great healthy coffee alternative when you need a boost!
To summarize (go here for more), the health benefits of MCT oil include:
- easier to digest than other fats
- burned as fuel rather than stored as fast
- increased metabolism
- potential weight loss
- increase in brain and body energy
Because they are sourced from sustainably harvested coconut or palm, are non-GMO, and are rich in the two shortest MCTs (caprylic and capric acids), I recommend these two brands of MCT oil:
- Perfect Supplements MCT Oil — get 25% OFF when you buy 3 or more “Perfect” products —OR— 30% OFF when you buy 6 “Perfect” products (mix-n-match if you like) —AND— get another 10% off with our exclusive discount code TCS10
- Trim Healthy Mama’s MCT Oil
Tip: Get 10% off your MCT order from Perfect Supplements by using this link and the coupon code TCS10 at checkout. Or, if you’re a premium member of Traditional Cooking School, you can save a bit more using your members-only coupon that’s in the member area. Plus, you can save even more if you buy 3 or more of Perfect Supplements “Perfect” branded products, even mix-n-match!
Click here to read more about why these are my top choices for MCT oil.
Use MCT oil as a coffee alternative in these amazing recipes for an energy boost!
- Sugar-Free Dandy Blend Latte
- How To Make *Healthy* Green Smoothies With Superfoods #AskWardee 132
- Instant Pot White Hot Chocolate
Bonus! 6. YOUR Energy Foods
According to one theory on metabolism types, some people are best fueled by carbs, some by fats, and some by both fats and carbs.
Ensure that your son is eating enough of his type of energy foods so that his brain and his muscles have what they need to focus and act.
How can you find out your metabolism type? Trial and error can certainly reveal it, or there are online quizzes you can take. Here is an in-depth quiz and here is a quicker quiz (neither of which I’m affiliated with).
More Traditional Cooking Info…
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the FREE Traditional Cooking Cupboard… you’ll get 14+ FREE eBooks featuring recipes, info, and articles on Traditional Cooking School, and a free Traditional Cooking video series!
Click here to grab your 14+ free eBooks and free video series today!
Any Questions Or Comments?
If you have other questions or comments about your own experience with boosting energy naturally, be sure to leave them in the comments!
Helpful Links
- FREE 14+eBooks and FREE Traditional Cooking Video Series
- The Mood Cure book by Dr. Julia Ross
- Matchinga (matcha + moringa) Powder — use coupon code TCS10 at checkout to get 10% OFF. Or, if you’re a premium member of Traditional Cooking School, you can save a bit more using your members-only coupon that’s in the member area. Plus, you can save even more if you buy 3 or more of Perfect Supplements “Perfect” branded products, even mix-n-match!
- High-Quality Maca Powder from The Maca Team
- Morning Motivator maca “coffee” drink
- Radiant Life water filtration systems right here — use coupon code WARDEE to get $25 or $100 off, depending on the size of the system you choose
- Perfect Supplements MCT Oil — get 25% OFF when you buy 3 or more “Perfect” products —OR— 30% OFF when you buy 6 “Perfect” products (mix-n-match if you like) —AND— get another 10% off with our exclusive discount code TCS10
- Trim Healthy Mama’s MCT Oil
What are your favorite healthy coffee alternatives? What foods or lifestyle choices do you make for natural boosts of energy? Please share in the comments!
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home.
This post is a combination of two posts originally published and written by Wardee Harmon and Lindsey Dietz on 1/22/20 and 1/11/16 respectively. The posts were combined, updated, and republished on 1/21/22.
We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).
Your first suggestions for an alternative to Coffee were Matcha and Maca. I have tried these alternatives and can tell you that people who have the jitters, rebound headaches, and nervousness from caffeine might find Matcha and Maca to give them the same reactions. I can not drink either of these alternatives because they caused the same side affects as coffee. Some people, like myself, are sensitive to stimulants. Matcha and Maca are stimulants. Is there any other reason why people should not drink caffeine? If not, then coffee is no worse than other stimulants. Let people enjoy it without suggesting alternatives. The smell of my of my husband’s coffee is a mood lifter in itself. Aroma therapy for happy, cozy feelings.
If you watched the entire video, she also mentioned 3 items that were NOT “stimulants”, namely WATER, MCT oil and eating for your personal metabolic type to boost energy. Seeing that there were only five items that she shared, and three were non- stimulants, I don’t see why you are so upset over her suggestions when more than half where non- stimulants. More importantly, she is responding to a question that was asked to her specifically. She was asked for her opinion and she is allowed to give it. I think it’s great that you like the smell of coffee- I personally think the smell is disgusting and I can’t stand it. There is something here for everyone and it’s not your job to be the content police. If it’s not helpful for you, then move along- it’s still helpful for MANY others. You are not the only person who exists in the world.
Hi Lunette, we’re sorry you had a reaction to the matcha and maca.
Wardee was answering Jody’s question for coffee alternatives. In addition to matcha and maca, Wardee also suggested water, MCT oil, and energy foods all of which do not contain caffeine.
~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team
Hi Wardee,
I found this information to be very helpful! I am struggling with all kinds of nervous system issues (or at least symptoms of nervous system issues) and I have been looking for ways to help myself! I am sensitive to caffeine, but need some extra energy because I am so tired all the time. The bit about my metabolic type was probably the most helpful, as I feel drowsy after eating carbs and can’t even get off the couch sometimes! Thanks for putting this video together, thanks for all your work.
What about Crio Bru (ground cacao beans)? I understand that it contains theobromine, a natural stimulant that does not cause jitters like caffeine.
Hi, Sarah! I haven’t tried that myself but it sure sounds interesting! Thanks for sharing and adding it as a potential item for people to look in to! God bless you!
Wardeh, Thank you for all your hard work. (both you and your team) You are a blessing to many.
I don’t see the link for the fat/carb energy quiz. Am I just not seeing it or was it forgotten?
Hi Joy, Thanks for asking. The links for the energy quizzes are in section #5 – Your Energy Foods.
~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team
My favorite coffee alternative is Moroccan mint tea. Don’t need any sugar with it, although if I did need any sweetness a touch of maple syrup for the elctrolytes.
I work at night & used to have problems with energy & focus until I tried cacao(roasted cocoa beans, coarse ground and brewed like coffee [if your coffee maker has a 1-4 bold setting, use that] or use a French press) and a shot of B-12 sublingually. I’m everywhere at work & get a lot more accomplished. Crio Bru is what I use…all the energy without the jitters. Earth Echo has some extras like turmeric & MCT’s as well. Hope you find what he needs