Three weeks ago, I did the unthinkable. I gave up coffee. I was striving for a cleaner body, one that didn’t crash a couple of hours after my caffeine buzz wore off and one with less acidity. Once I quit though, I missed my morning comfort of a hot cup of something, and I wasn’t feeling great about giving up caffeine.

Consuming caffeine does have it’s benefits such as, causing a release of dopamine, making you feel sharper and more alert, and giving you more physical stamina, especially during workouts. I wondered how could I get my morning jolt without the crash and acidity. And then I discovered yerba mate.

{Photo courtesy of www.vitacost.com.}

Yerba mate is a South American tea that has been enjoyed for centuries. Although it contains three stimulants, caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, it offers a smooth boost of energy without the crash of other caffeinated drinks.

Another great benefit is that unlike coffee, yerba mate does not contribute to the acidity in your body. (Eating and drinking less acidic things is a good thing to strive for.) Yerba mate contains twenty-four vitamins and minerals, fifteen amino acids, and a litany of antioxidants. Other awesome things it does for your body include:

• Increasing physical energy
• Stimulating focus and clarity
• Supporting weight loss
• Helping to eliminate toxins

I recommend using the organic varieties. Try it for a week, and see if you don’t feel amazing. Here’s to eating clean and drinking clean. Well, most of the time, anyway.

YOUR FUN, SEXY, SPIRITUAL HOMEWORK

• Read more about yerba mate here.
• For one week, try the one I use. It’s organic. You’ll love it. You can find it at just about any health food store, such as Whole Foods.
• Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Body, swears by yerba mate.