For this edition, editor Dana Ingemann tried finding an alternative to caffeine.
I love it so much, that sometimes I lie in bed at night looking forward to it.
(Yes, my life is very exciting.)
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Unfortunately, coffee does have a few downsides.
Enter: Dandelion root tea.
But it’s not a new practice.
Courtesy of Dana Ingemann
Given this promising research, I figured it wouldnt hurt to give it a go.
What Is Dandelion Root Tea?
Dandelion root tea is made from the dandelion plant.
The roots are pulled from the ground, cut into smaller pieces, and cooked until dried.
The roots can be added to hot water like this or ground into a powder to be mixed in.
As you may be able to imagine, a week of no coffee is easier said than done.
They advertise their dandelion root tea as bitter and earthy.
Thursday morning came around and I brewed my tea.
As I nervously took my first sip, I was met with a bitter but balanced tastenot unlike coffee.
Im not going to lie to you and say it tasted like coffee, but it certainly tasted pleasant.
I added a dash of honey for sweetness and happily drank my entire cup.
Caffeine Withdrawals
Did I notice the lack of caffeine?
That afternoon I experienced acaffeine withdrawal headache.
I ended up taking ibuprofen to help me deal with the symptoms and drank plenty of water.
Day two was similar.
I drank my tasty tea, lamented over the slight headache I developed and went on with my day.
By day three, my headache was completely gone.
I was surprised to only experience short-lived withdrawals from such a long-term vice.
Adding Flavor to Function
I also decided to experiment with my tea.
Although, I found that my craving was for thetaste,rather than its effects.
I genuinely enjoy coffee and its robust, roasty flavor.
While dandelion tea tasted good, I didnt find myself looking forward to it in the same way.
It made me ask myself, Does this genuinely add value to my life?
I challenge you to think about if your consumption feels balanced to you.
Are you drinking three cups of coffee a day and getting heart palpitations at your desk?
Maybe swap out cup three for tea and see if it helps.
Are you having one too many alcoholic drinks while sitting on your patio?
Maybe a warm cup of tea can keep you cozy while avoiding the hangover.
Listen to your body and serve it well.
Gonzalez-Castejon M, Visioli F, Rodriguez-Casado A.Diverse biological activities of dandelion.Nutr Rev.
2012;70(9):534-547.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
