Cutting Out Caffeine*

 

This year I didn't give anything up for lent, I've been there and done it (chocolate, if you were interested) and there wasn't anything that sprung to mind that I needed or wanted to give up. However, when it turned New Years I decided to give up high caffeine drinks, namely Coke and coffee, and it has proved to be a major benefit for my day-to-day life, both in obvious ways, and the more discreet.

 

Let me start off by saying that neither of the high caffeine drinks I gave up are particularly bad for you, and what works for some people works for others. Since we all have different minds and bodies it make sense that we would react in different ways to certain foods and drinks, and before I gave caffeine up I didn't even realise the negative aspects. There have been two major benefits I've noticed:

1. My skin has cleared up SO much. Over the years I've had problematic skin, and if there's a change I can always pretty much find the source of the change. Since Christmas I always have at least one day a week when I go completely make-up free and feel comfortable doing it, as my complexion has evened out a heck of a lot. I think I would relate this change to the decrease in sugar, since for the most part I don't drink as many fizzy drinks in general, but it could be the caffeine, as it disrupts hormones and can be a trigger for acne.
2. My sleeping pattern has become more balanced - instead of lying awake at night and then feeling exhausted during the daytime, especially in the afternoon, I feel refreshed as I get to sleep at a normal time. This I can almost definitely say is down to the caffeine, as its the only change I've made that could be a direct link to sleep, as caffeine gives you energy and its designed effect is to keep you awake.

Obviously, I'm not a nutritionist and I don't claim to know everything about the affects of caffeine. I just thought it might be helpful to anyone considering giving it up, to see the difference it has made to my skin and sleeping pattern. Also, I am aware that some of the alternatives I mention may be slightly caffeinated, for me the big step was cutting out high levels of the substance.

 



 

I've also had to come up with alternatives to drinking my favourite fizzy drink, and although it has largely increased the amount of water I drink in a day, sometimes you want something yummy to drink. Lemonade (such as 7Up) is a good alternative, but I like to try alternate flavours, and the best brand I've found for that is Fentimans. Their drinks feature in my local coffee shop which I visit every week, and I've been a fan of their Elderflower and Rose Lemonade flavours for years.

 

It was so coincidental, but as I was drafting this post I got an email asking if I wanted to try their brand new flavour 'Sparkling Lime and Jasmine'*, and since I was going to need recommendations for you guys to try instead of Coke, I obviously said yes. Flash forward a week, and I received bottles and bottles of the new drink to enjoy (and my whole family has had a taste as well - thankyou to the team at Fentimans!) The new flavour is a 100% natural, botanically brewed drink, with the initial refreshing bitterness on the tongue becoming swiftly balanced by the sweetness of Hyssop, Lime flower and Juniper berries, and the crisp aroma delivered in the form of white Jasmine flowers. They advertise this as a 'credible alternative to alcohol', and although that isn't what I've given up, I can see this as a stylish drink to take to parties, and I have a lot of friends who don't drink that I know would be impressed by this.

 

I would compare this new flavour as similar to tonic water, if you've ever tasted that. My Grandparents love this new drink for that reason, and I am a huge fan of the initial sourness of lime when you first take a sip. Almost all of the drinks from this brand are what I look for when I go out now (minus the cola, since that's caffeinated), and as I said before, look out for not only this new flavour, but the others too! Literally, the rose lemonade is so blogger, what more could you wish for? 

 

 

These new Fentimans drinks are a lovely alternative to Coke, but to satisfy your hot drink craving, I would obviously recommend hot chocolate, or some form of the drink. I'm also loving Ovaltine, since it isn't too unhealthy but satisfies my need for a warm drink on a cold morning. It's the best feeling to curl up with a mug, grab your laptop and have a little blog post reading session.

 

I hope you found this post interesting, and consider trying these alternatives. I understand that for most people cutting out caffeine isn't needed, but if you do feel the need (or even if you don't), don't be scared to try new things, as their are always ways to switch things up.

 

Thanks again to Fentimans for supplying me with plenty to sip away at during spring, and feel free to check out their twitter and instagram for more info and pretty photos of their huge array of drinks. I would put the usual disclaimer about all thoughts being my own, but I think my obvious enthusiasm shows that this brand has been in my life long before I got an email.

 

Have you ever tried this brand, or made any dietary changes?