A Tasty Alternative
By Brian
@wolfie34 (26770)
United Kingdom
January 29, 2008 4:11pm CST
When you are so used to drinking or eating a particular drink or food respectively and suddenly you have to take an alternative due to ill health, diet or GP recommendation are you reluctant to change or do you happily try and alternative and then decide whether to change?
For example
A nurse I had to see last week has strongly advised me to cut my caffeine intake as it is causing me a lot of internal problems, I won't bore you with the details but she has asked me to slowly wean myself off caffeine, but NOT to do it drastically, she has recommended I try decaff coffee instead of normal coffee and to cut back on the pepsi and even hot chocolate has caffeine in it!
So I got myself a jar of decaff coffee I was reluctant at first, I always have my coffee black, I hate milk in coffee and I have my two sweeteners and here comes the wolfie test
It was really nice! I couldn't believe the taste, there is no difference and now I have totally switched from normal coffee to decaff!
So have you ever tried an alternative, healthy one to a drink or a food that you have enjoyed in the past but have had to change
4 people like this
11 responses
@chrislotz (8136)
• Canada
31 Jan 08
There is no difference in the taste of decaf coffee and caffinated coffee. It's just with the decaf you don't get that extra kick that the caffinated one gives you. The reason the nurse said to wean yourself off is because when you all of a sudden stop putting caffine in your body it is a shock to your system. I know when I try to quit drinking coffee I get a wicked headache. So I don't drink decaf coffee very often because I want that caffine jolt it gives.
1 person likes this
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
29 Jan 08
Ok had to go to the books for this one...
Coffee is the WORST offender. at
Coffee 80-135mg caffine/8 ounces (brewed). That is one small cup of coffee
Pepsi 37.5mg/ 12 ounces (one can)
Hot Cocoa is only 14mg/ 8 ounces
Remember even decaf coffee has 3-4mg but that is WAY less than the 135mg you are getting with coffee.
Remember unless it is caffine free, diet-sodas have just as much caffine as their sugar-laden brothers do.
I have a condition (won't get into it) where my doctor actually wanted me to take MORE caffine. I don't drink coffee, cut out soda, drink only water and 100% juices so no caffine in my diet.
Somehow the medications I take need a little boost to work at their peek efficiency but I feel fine they work fine and I still don't drink any of the above.
Great you found a wonderful alternative!Picture below are the Kona coffee fields from when I was in Hawaii... where I tried all different kinds of coffee and dang was I wired that day... it really has an effect on someone who is not used to it.
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
29 Jan 08
What an interesting, informative, enjoyable response, I soooo want to award you best response straight away but only after half an hour of posting wouldn't deem fair, but I want to thank you for your excellent response and thanks too for the picture, you have taught me a lot in one day about Florida and Hawaii! Thanks
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Feb 08
Funny you should mention this. I was just thinking the other day should I switch to decaff. Coffee doesn't have a stimulating effect on me. It doesn't give me a boost and doesn't keep me awake...in fact, if I have a cup before bed I sleep better. I used to drink heaps, sometimes 12 - 15 cups a day and now I'm lucky if I get 2. Just wanted to point out that there is no known reason why I need to change. I checked out the decaff on the shelf and it's all so expensive!!
The hardest change for me is going from sugar to sweeteners. That's pretty hard but definitely doable.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
31 Jan 08
There is a slight difference in taste between the two.
But the decaf one doesn't taste too bad. :)
@mummymo (23706)
•
30 Jan 08
Glad you are enjoying it but whatever you do sweetheart don't stick to just decaf unless you are getting caffeine some other way as to switch would make you ill , this I know from bitter experience. As for having to use an alternative the worst I can think of is switching from full fat milk to semi skimmmed , sonething I always swore I would never do, unfortunately I had to make some adjustmments due to my cholestorol being too high and not wanting to take medication for it! I hated it at first but I am used to it now even if I do sometimes buy a little carton of full fat just to enjoy drinking it! xxx
@comeonmolly (828)
• China
31 Jan 08
Yeah,I have ever tried an alternative once in my high school.I remembered at that time I have a problem with my skin and the doctor strongly recommend me not to eat seafood any more .so I have to alternative my habit of eating the sea food to eating other meat instead..Now it is quite a long time that I haven't eat the sea food though I know that it is benefit my health a lot especially for my head development..
Molly;-)
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
30 Jan 08
I loathe decaf. My tastebuds are quite sensitive and I can tell the difference. If I had to cut back I would have to try 1/2 and 1/2 for a while and ween myself. It would take a while. I tried to go cold turkey and had such a headache by mid morning. That is a sign of caffeine addiction or so I have been told.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
30 Jan 08
well yeah i drink a decaf coffee since im too were advice not to drink coffee due the caffeine in it and had bad effects on me(palpitations)...but i had successfully get over the coffee thing..not even a decaf i guess...
@raydene (9871)
• United States
30 Jan 08
I like you love my caffine but had to cut down also..I tried the decaf coffee and got sick to my stomach and had headaches...They use a chemical to cut the caffine and I was having a reaction to the chemical..I have found if I drink just one large mug of coffee each morning I'm ok..I have all but given up the cola drinks now just having a diet pepsi one in a great while..Hot chocolate makes me sick also but I do love it...I just can not have it...
xoxoxoxoxo
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
30 Jan 08
Hello dear wolfie. I think that we need to always follow the doctor's advice for the sake of our good health. My father-in-law stopped smoking immediately after his doctor told him that he could not smoke any more years ago. He immediately quitted smoking and it has been many years that he has not had the desire to smoke once again. I am so glad that he is so determined to stop smoking as the doctor advised for his health.
I also wish that you would gradually quit the unwanted eating or drinking habit that your doctor suggested to you and stay healthy, my dear friend.
@chrysz (1602)
• Philippines
30 Jan 08
Yes, I also had to shift from an ordinary coffee to a decaf when I was pregnant and until now that I am having palpitation and high BP, I still use Decaf. Sometimes, there is no difference in the taste but there are some food that doesn't taste the same just like the regular and diet coke. I find diet coke sweeter than the regular coke and the smell is also different.
If you wanna live longer, you will follow your GP but sometimes, we can't deny the fact that we long to taste the food we use to love so much.
