Written By Gina & Samantha Strom
Everyone is switching to a caffeine alternative and our nervous systems are lovin’ it!
Self-care and being mindful of how we treat our bodies is all the hype nowadays - as it should be! Our bodies do so much for us and allow us to have this incredible human experience. They deserve to be given all the tender love and care we could possibly give them, right?
Absolutely!
So let me ask you, how aware are you of things that drain your energy? Things like excessive screen time, over working, lack of sleep, poor diet - all these things work against our favor when it comes to living mindfully.
How about your relationship with caffeine?
Whether we’re sipping it to get going in the morning, or pounding it to stay awake later at night, our favorite psychoactive drug is easily accessible everywhere we look.
Caffeine can be added as an ingredient to foods and beverages and naturally found in the plants we use to make coffee, tea and chocolate. It’s also found in plants used as flavorings, such as guarana, or alternative teas such as yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and Ilex guayusa.
The FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day—that's about four or five cups of coffee—as an amount not generally associated with dangerous, negative effects. Toxic effects, like seizures, can be observed with rapid consumption of around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine usually found in weight loss pills. For reference, a 12 ounce can of a caffeinated soft drink typically contains 30 to 40 milligrams of caffeine, an 8-ounce cup of green or black tea 30-50 milligrams, and an 8-ounce cup of coffee closer to 80 to 100 milligrams. Decaf coffees and teas have less caffeine than their regular counterparts, but they still contain some caffeine, typically 2-15 milligrams in an 8-ounce cup.
Butttt - like you might know all too well, everyone metabolizes their caffeine differently, and it can cause some real issues for those who are sensitive to it. Caffeine is a potent brain stimulant with effects science is still deconstructing, and it’s easy to overlook that it’s a drug–the world's most consumed psychoactive drug–with definite upsides but also significant downsides, no matter how easy it is to find. Caffeine can cause insomnia, jitters, anxiousness, a fast heart rate, upset stomach, nausea, headache, and feelings of unhappiness. Along with these unpleasant reactions, it can really make us feel completely out of our bodies. Disconnecting us from the things that matter like our self-care, and health.
Have you ever heard of someone sitting down to meditate after throwing back a double espresso? Nope, me either.
Not only that, but have you ever had a cup of joe after 1 pm and find yourself tossing and turning all night? Or have you become so dependent on coffee, that you take it to hype yourself up and find that you have skipped out on your morning or evening ritual of stillness. We know the science behind taking time each morning for mediation, breath-work or journaling. Sometimes a coffee can get you into full work mode, you forget to take that precious time for yourself.
So do you have to give up your sacred morning or evening beverage?
No way! You're not alone on the quest for finding an alternative to the jitters of caffeine, which has led to an amazing market of caffeine free foods and beverages.
Lucky for you, we have everything you need! Our ritual box subscribers are just like you. They know that at Chasin’ Unicorns we care deeply about what goes inside, outside and within the aura of our clients. That’s why we keep our store stocked with exactly what you need to ditch the jitters of caffeine while still feeling focused, uplifted, and productive - naturally.
So before we get to Sam's stellar and unique recipe, from the mouth of a used to be coffee addict herself (haha) let's review the single ingredients first.
Everyone has heard of Chai, right?
Places like Starbucks use a high sugar concentrated version of this delicious drink, usually causing you to feel really good when you’re drinking it - but then you crave sugar again once you crash, and your gut feels quite awful after too. When it comes to taste and quality, we recommend Blue Lotus Chai as an incredible alternative to your usual morning cup of joe, or that sugary Starbucks knock-off. Found in our store, this chai is a delicious blend of REAL stimulating spices that pairs perfectly with warmed milk to create heaven in a cup! I enjoy mine with oat milk personally, but it can be made with any type of milk that makes your heart happy!
Blue Lotus Chai is traditional Masala Chai and is black tea based. There is approximately 15%, or 1/7 of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee. Meaning you would have to drink seven cups of our chai to equal the amount of caffeine in the same size cup of coffee!
Add in a pinch of our Himalayan Shilajit for that 3rd cup of coffee focused feeling and the amazing benefit of fulvic acid! Used to improve the absorption and usage (bioavailability) of other consumed nutrients, fulvic acid is just one of the incredible vitamins and minerals you find in Shilajit. Shilajit is a rejuvenating age-old natural substance that has stood the test of time amongst many Eastern cultures. Today we know it worldwide as one of nature's most potent nutritional supplements for enhanced energy and vitality. Some of the oldest records of this medicine stem back approximately 5000 years to India and the Himalayan Mountains, which has led many to believe that this is where Shilajit originates from. The best quality Shilajit today comes from the Himalayan and Altai mountains, which is where we source from, and it is speculated to be between 300 and 500 million years old!
Shilajit is also the perfect mineral supplement when mixed in with our other mind easing beverage in the store, our Turmeric Ayurvedic Hot Cocoa . 100% caffeine free, this hot cocoa is divine to have before bed while you soak in a bath, or in the morning while you sit outside and watch the sun rise. Add in a pinch of our Himalayan Shilajit and Chai for clarity, and you have a sweet and highly euphoric drink to start your day!
Like with all of our products, we highly encourage using them alongside your daily rituals and times of rest. When we allow our bodies to be at ease, the mind follows. When the mind is at ease, we are able to tune in, receive, and be in angelic flow. It’s in this flow our lives become more aligned and abundant.
Now combine all these powerhouse superfoods into one delicious tonic.
Here is a recipe that has been working as the ultimate coffee replacement especially for someone who loves the taste of coffee. Sometimes we just need something warm in the mornings to help wake up our soul, and this recipe is an amazing one to try out.
Sam's Coffee Replacement Recipe
- Boil 1-2 cups of 9.5 Kangen water (or regular filtered/ alkaline water).
- Drop in 1.5 heaping tablespoons of our Turmeric Ayurvedic Hot Cocoa.
- Add 1 teaspoon of our Blue Lotus Chai.
- Add 1/3 teaspoon ( a tiny sliver) of our Himalayan Shilajit.
- Splash of your favorite coffee creamer.
- 2 droppers of Drip Day Time Formula.
Citations~
https://www.purehimalayanshilajit.com/what-is-shilajit/
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
https://bluelotuschai.com/faq/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2018/06/29/three-things-caffeine-does-in-your-brain/?sh=50e44a7a1876
