I have (almost) no vices. I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs. I don’t cheat, lie, or steal. I try to never gossip or judge. I don’t even eat meat! So the mere suggestion that I should give up caffeine, which is my one remaining vice, is enough to make me bristle.
I know I am addicted to coffee. I love the stuff. I love the smell of it when I grind the beans and the way the aroma fills the house when it is brewing. It is not unusual for me to have three Americanos (double shots of espresso watered down to coffee strength) in a single day and until now, the caffeine has never been a problem. Lately, however, I have not been sleeping well and I suspect that coffee is the culprit. What to do? If I am to reduce my caffeine intake or even (gulp!) give up coffee, I must find an alternative beverage. By the time I hit the coffee shop every day, I have already downed two or three cups of tea, so I have no desire for more tea. I don’t drink soda or milk products and regular juices are full of sugar, so they are not an acceptable substitute.
Today, as I stood in line waiting to order I noticed a new beverage on the shelf, something called Odwalla Superfood. The first thing I noticed is that it is green. It really didn’t look very good, but the label was attractive, so I picked it up to read the ingredients. I discovered that Superfood is a blend of sweet apple juice and purees of peach, mango, strawberry, and banana, blended with green foods including wheat grass, barley grass, and wheat sprouts, jerusalem artichoke, and spirulina. When I realized that Odwalla was the same brand as the “green” energy bars I like so much, I decided to test the drink.
I opened the bottle with some trepidation, quite sure that something that particular shade of green couldn’t possibly taste good and was delighted to find that it is absolutely delicious! I think I may just have found an acceptable substitute for at least for some of the coffee I drink, and I’ll be getting my antioxidant vitamin C and other nutrients at the same time. Go green! They’ve even got a cool website.
Thank you for all the detail!! Yet a typical terrific entry, it’s really the reason I return for a wordpress bog repeatedly..
I’ve been on acai products for 2 months now and besides the fact that I’m losing weight my energy level is also way higher. I found some reviews and free samples of acai berry diet.
It is definitely a lifestyle change… all areas of your life need to reflect a healthy life style and your correct in having a balanced spiritual, physical and emotional life. Superfood are definitely a great addition to your verse diet.
I’m not an avid drinker of coffee since it hardly works on me to keep me awake. I’ve tried filling my stomach with coffee during late night assignments or whenever I’m feeling sleepy during the day but it doesn’t seem to work, I still feel drowsy.
OK, I saw this stuff in Harris Teeter this week, and felt compelled to buy some (write them and ask for a referral fee). I bought the crazy, lime green colored one. It was GOOD, more apple tasting than anything else. I have to tell ya, it was pricey though!
Barbara,
Someone once told me that coffee only affects your sleep if you are stressed. That is why some people can drink five coffees before going to bed and sleep fine while others can’t even have one in the afternoon without it affecting them. No idea if it is true or whether there is an explanation for this.