An efficient way to cut off coffee is not by forcefully removing it from your diet (and thus created unwanted cravings) but rather to slowly replace with healthier coffee alternatives until the addiction or habit has dissapeared.
In Ayurveda it is said that any change should take place slowly and progressively to ensure they are easy to maintain in the long run. This prevents shock to the body and mind.
Coffee is hot, dry, toxic, acidifying, stimulant, rajastic, fermenting, pacifies kapha but increases vata and pitta. Coffee causes tension, is laxative and is drying in nature. Generally it is to be avoided or prepared in a certain way for people suffering from pitta or vata imbalances.
So here are some ways to slowly and progressively cut down on coffee.
# 1 – Adding cardamom to your coffee, drink water with your coffee and eat a date after
- “Cardamom neutralizes the stimulating effects of caffeine, [it] boosts the digestive process without boosting the nervous system. Throughout the Middle East, coffee is brewed with cardamom.”
- Dates are sweet in taste which balances the bitterness of coffee. Dates are also cooling, satvic, heavy and nourishing. They will balance the heating and acidifying qualities of coffee. Dates are not necessary if you take milk or a raw form of sugar in your coffee.
- Water or diluting your coffee helps prevent the drying effects of coffee and minimise the stimulating effect.
#2 – Replace your coffee habit with chai or fresh ginger infusion
#3 – Experiment with coffee alternatives such as A. Vogel Bambu substitute or Barley cup
#4 – Inlcude more bitter foods in your diet such as leafy greens, turmeric and fenugreek
#5 – Observe the level activity you put yourself through and wether this requires you to artificially stimulate body and mind with coffee, white sugar and other stimulants. Perhaps you can try to slow down your activity levels.
#6 – Ayurveda supplements – please speak with a registered Ayurveda Practitioner.
Most of all, take it easy, do not apply force, get to know yourself and your needs, so that you do not create unwanted frustration and boomerang effect. When the time is right coffee will not be a necessity and if sometimes it is, then perhaps that is also ok for your body right now.
Elena Beurdeley
Natural Health Practitioner – Ayurveda
The Ayurveda Centre Athens
Nutrition & Massage Therapies
