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For many New Yorkers, it’s impossible to wake up without a cup of morning coffee. Whether it’s your traditional cup of Joe, an espresso, or even an almond-milk latte, these early doses of caffeine are the only thing that keeps Starbucks lovers from going insane. (including me, especially because it’s snowy and disgusting).
However, some people are trying to prove that this essential lifeline is bad for you, claiming that it increases your stress level and messes with your liver in some sort of technical way. On the other hand, there are also a bunch of studies claiming that it’s good for you because it might actually prevent liver cancer and Parkinson’s disease. So until researchers settle on whether or not coffee is going to kill you or save your life, you can have fun deciding on what you want to believe. If you are interested in ways to avoid drinking coffee, here are some.
- Eat an Apple
These delectable little balls of natural sugar do more than keep the doctor away. The sugar in apples also helps keep you energized and ready. According to the California Apple Commission, there are 16 grams of sugar in a medium-sized apple. I tried this for a day before realizing that I had just forgotten about the coffee I had after waking up.
- Slowly Reduce Your Intake
If you are one of the people who treat coffee like it’s a battery, you’re probably drinking a bit more than one cup a day. To kick the habit, try slowly reducing your intake over time. This will help your body get used to working off less caffeine and may lessen the amount of nasty withdrawal headaches. Out of all the ways to kick the habit, this one is the least painful because it allows you to hold on to your Starbucks for just a little longer.
- Drink water instead
Unlike coffee, you can’t argue about the health benefits of water. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it helps rid your body of water, so this method can help offset some of the negative effects of coffee. It is well documented that staying hydrated helps people stay alert and focused.
While the debate continues on whether coffee itself is good for you, there’s no denying that riding yourself of an addiction can only be a good thing. But the nasty withdrawal headaches and the crankiness that comes along with getting rid of coffee are painful, so make the process as easy as possible.
– by Connie Lee