Have you been wanting to try a coffee detox? Too scared of the consequences and side effects? Here are my top 11 tips for transitioning away from caffeine.

1. Start in the warmer months, it’s always easier. I’m not sure why, but I’m assuming a hot drink in the heat is less appealing. UPDATE: Winter is also perfect – think Turmeric lattes and Dandelion Tea substitutes.
2. If you drink 2 cups per day, taper off slowly. Start by reducing it to one cup a day, then nothing over the course of 1-2 weeks. It will reduce risk of withdrawal symptoms.
3. Start the morning with a shot of lemon, ginger and turmeric juice. It will wake you up without any question at all. If that’s too much of a stretch, be sure to add fresh ginger root to a green smoothie – ZING!
4. Load up on water! Hydration is key (always). If you’re struggling to drink water, flavouring it with citrus fruits, berries, mint and/or cucumber will help with cravings.
5. Wake up half an hour earlier to exercise – whilst this might not be an option early on, replacing your need for a morning stimulant with an invigorating walk/run will not only help detox the body, but also boost your metabolism. It will also help stimulate a bowel motion (below).
6. Many people use their morning cup of coffee as a bowel stimulant. When these people reduce their intake, things can feel a little sluggish. Eating lots of vegetables, especially those that support the liver i.e. broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and leafy greens will ensure you’re well and truly working on restoring healthy bowel function. Give yourself 1-2 days to normalise before speaking to a Nutritionist to investigate what’s really going on.
7. Add in a cup (or two) of dandelion and chicory root tea to assist in boosting liver function. The bitter flavours of this tea will also help act as a direct substitute.
8. Consider Tee-chino. A roasted blend of herbs, fruits and nuts that tastes so much like coffee, I tripled checked that it was caffeine free.
9. Be prepared to get some extra sleep. As you wind down from the caffeine fix, your body will crave some extra R&R. Don’t be afraid to take a 20-minute nap in the afternoon to help restore that balance. Getting extra sleep of an evening – anywhere between 7-9hrs will also mean your less likely to reach for that cup of coffee (or afternoon sugar hit) to keep you going.
10. Meditate – I know, I know, it sounds a little woo-woo, but the art of meditation is all about calming the nervous system and that’s exactly your aim when you’re giving up the caffeine.
11. Be wary with the decaf, it’s not necessarily better. You can read more about this here.