Some caffeine alternatives might include various types of herbal teas. A person who relies heavily on the effects of caffeine to stay awake may also be able to get the same effects from other natural methods, such as showering and eating something sweet. It might also be beneficial for a person to take short, 20-minute naps in an attempt to recharge the body's energy level. Even though black tea does contain some caffeine, it has much less than coffee and may be able to help a person feel alert without all the negative side effects of high concentrations of caffeine.
There are many teas containing various herbs that could be considered caffeine alternatives because they mimic the caffeine side effects that most people seek, such as the ability to stay awake and mentally alert. Licorice tea is often thought to have a stimulating effect on the body's adrenal glands. Yerba mate, which is a very popular drink in South America and is made from the dried leaves of the tree with the same name, is considered useful for extra energy. Switching to decaffeinated coffee or black tea may also help because even though caffeine is still present in both drinks, it is present to a much lesser extent that is not typically considered dangerous. The alert feeling a person is used to getting from caffeinated beverages is still possible to attain when consuming these drinks, but in much safer doses.
It can be difficult for a person who is trying to wean himself off caffeine to stay awake if he is used to using it for that reason, but there are some natural caffeine alternatives that may help that are not in beverage form. When sleep is imminent and not desired, a quick shower may be just enough to perk a person up for a bit longer. Sugary foods also tend to give a quick rush of energy, although this tactic should be used minimally to avoid possible weight gain repercussions. Another idea is for a person to take a nap for about 20 minutes if she feels tired, but not for any longer. Twenty minutes is usually just enough to give a person the rest he needs to stay awake for a while longer, but an alarm clock should be set so that the nap does not extend past this time.
The process a person must go through to wean herelf off caffeine may be trying, but the results should be worth it. There are some benefits to caffeine, but only when it is consumed in moderate amounts. Most people get too much caffeine every day through coffee and energy drinks, and this may do more harm than good. Over time, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and increased nervousness may result from the regular intake of excess caffeine. Using caffeine alternatives in place of caffeine may over time help a person kick the habit for good.
