Coffee Rules For a Quick Energy Boost, Yes? Or Is There Better Stuff Out There?

In today's busy world, caffeine would seem to rule as far as the stimulant of choice. Only problem is that caffeine can raise blood-cholesterol levels, deplete B vitamins, irritate the stomach, and possibly lead to breast and prostate problems, among other drawbacks. Caffeine is not necessarily bad for most of us if taken in moderation, say no more than two or three cups of coffee daily, but for many of us, that doesn't seem to be enough, myself included.

I'll never give up coffee but fortunately caffeine is not your only choice when it comes to stimulating your energy levels. Natural substances like herbs and teas can increase stamina in a variety of ways. Plus a lot of these natural products can give you a better energy kick without the potentially detrimental side effects of caffeine. Let's take a look.

Guarana. Although actually containing caffeine, the seeds of the guarana plant are known for naturally increasing mental alertness and fighting fatigue. The seeds from this South American jungle shrub are crushed and either brewed as a tea or may be added to food. Guarana has been used regularly by Brazilian Indians in a traditional beverage for hundreds of years and is used in energy drinks all over the world, usually along with ginseng and taurine. Does Red Bull ring a bell? Herbalists in the U.S. also use guarana to treat headaches, paralysis, urinary tract irritation, and diarrhea. Personally, I think guarana is stronger by far than coffee caffeine but for some reason doesn't give me any real jitters or restlessness.

Yerba mate has been used as a beverage since the time of the ancient Indians of Brazil and Paraguay. In addition to its standing as a popular beverage, yerba mate is used as a tonic, diuretic, and as a stimulant to reduce fatigue, suppress appetite, and aid gastric function in herbal medicine systems throughout South America. I've had it many times myself and though I find the beverage to be very strong tasting, it's a fantastic pick me upper. I highly recommend Yerbe mate as instant rocket fuel for a nice change. By the way, Yerbe is the drink while mate means "gourd", the traditional serving cup.

In Brazil, Yerbe mate is said to stimulate the nervous and muscular systems and is used for digestive problems, nerve pain, depression, fatigue, and obesity. The traditional use of yerba mate for fatigue is explained by its primary active chemical: caffeine. Yerba mate could be beneficial as a weight-loss aid because of three active ingredients, known as xanthines (theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline) which all have diuretic properties. These substances have several other documented pharmacological actions including central nervous system stimulation, relaxation of smooth muscle (especially bronchial muscle) and myocardial stimulation, beneficial for the walls of the heart and arteries.

Cayenne is the greatest blood circulation stimulant known. Cayenne increases your blood circulation immediately within seconds, more than any other herb. Cayenne pepper (also called Capsicum frutescens) is a stimulating herb made from the dried pods of chili peppers and is well known for its pungent taste and smell. Cayenne is a popular spice used mainly for adding a hot kick to food, but it has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. Because of it's remarkable blood cleansing properties, it serves as a tonic to the bloodstream, increasing blood flow and creating a general overall feeling of well being. Start easy and work your way up, especially if you're not used to hot spices. However, the hotter the better. Take a half teaspoon of high quality cayenne in a glass of juice, I like tomato juice, stir and enjoy.

This is a short list of herbs that I use personally and highly recommend. Try them out and enjoy. Thank you for reading.

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