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Over Caffeinated?

Another way to fill your cup.

By Marcelle Pick

Published: October 29, 2009

If you need more than one cup, try changing what’s in the cup!

Many of us find it difficult to give up coffee and black tea—but the reason why may be more complex than just the daily buzz. An important part of the morning routine for many women is a hot “cuppa”—it’s relaxing and warming and makes us feel comforted. And there’s no reason to give this up. I’m okay with one cup of coffee in the morning while you are on The Core Balance Diet, but know that weaning off caffeine for a period of time is always a healthy choice. If you need more than one cup, try changing what’s in the cup! Herbal teas, decaf coffee, warm water with lemon, or even low-sodium chicken, beef, or vegetable broth sipped slowly in the morning are delicious alternatives.

If you’re finding it really hard to stop drinking coffee and black teas, don’t stress! Try to alternate cups of caffeinated coffee and tea with non-caffeinated varieties, or make your morning coffee with half decaf, half caf, slowly increasing the amount of decaf until you wean off caf completely. Always buy high-quality Arabica beans (which are lower in caffeine than robusta varieties) and really savor your cup; you may find you need only one.

As you wean off caffeine, experiment with herbal teas. Not only are they delicious, but they will help keep you hydrated. Many come in prepackaged tea bags, or you can buy loose-leaf tea and make your own infusion. If you are on prescription medication, diabetic, pregnant, or breast-feeding, do not ingest herbs or herbal teas without discussing them first with your medical practitioner.

Herbal Teas for All Reasons

• To invigorate and boost digestion: cinnamon, ginger, green teas, fennel, gentian, gotu kola, lemongrass, peppermint, red raspberry, sage, sarsaparilla, slippery elm, yerba maté
• To detoxify: alfalfa, anise, dandelion, fenugreek, gingko, licorice, nettle, parsley, red clover, uva ursi
• To boost immunity: birch bark, echinacea, elder, feverfew, garlic, goldenseal, horehound, hyssop, marshmallow, pau d’arco
• To calm and relax: borage, chamomile, dong quai, hops, kava kava, kudzu, passionflower, St. John’s wort, valerian

To make a delicious infusion, preheat an 8-cup teapot and a mug with hot water. Fill kettle with cold water and heat just until boiling. Empty teapot and add 2–3 tablespoons herbal leaves or flowers (or to taste). Fill teapot with just-boiled water. Let steep for 3–4 minutes. Empty mug and pour infusion through a small, tight-mesh tea strainer. Serve with lemon.

Excerpted from The Core Balance Diet by Marcelle Pick. Copyright © 2009 (Hay House).

Marcelle Pick co-founded Women to Women in 1983 with a vision to change the way in which women’s healthcare is delivered. Marcelle undertakes a holistic approach that not only treats illness, but also helps women make choices in their lives to prevent disease. Visit: www.WomenToWomen.com.