{"id":31124,"date":"2025-12-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/?p=31124"},"modified":"2026-02-17T08:26:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:26:36","slug":"morning-drinks-breakfast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodrevolution.org\/blog\/morning-drinks-breakfast\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Morning Drinks to Start Your Day Off Right"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once upon a time, there was an Ethiopian monk with a problem. According to <\/span>legend<\/span><\/a>, he couldn\u2019t stay awake during prayers, which made him look bad to his monastic brothers. One day, he was traveling through a field when he happened upon a strange and wondrous sight \u2014 a pirouetting shepherd amid a herd of capering goats.<\/span><\/p>\n

The shepherd and his flock were dancing up a storm. Even an old buck was leaping like a little kid. The monk asked the shepherd about the fantastic dance party he was witnessing and soon discovered that both man and goats had been feasting on the berries of a nearby coffee bush.<\/span><\/p>\n

The monk, realizing he had found the solution to his somnolence, picked handfuls of berries, stuffed his pockets, and continued on his journey. When he returned to the monastery, he reconstituted the now-dried berries by boiling them and drinking the resulting liquid.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, this particular monk became a model of energetic piety, and it wasn\u2019t long before the other monks were also using the wondrous bean to power their own spiritual quests. And that, I\u2019d like to think, is the origin story of the world\u2019s most popular morning beverage. And since you won\u2019t find it disproven in any coffee history books, it just might be. Who knows?<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning Beverage as Ritual<\/h2>\n

And yet, as popular as coffee remains, other options for morning drinks also abound. Even folks who skip breakfast typically drink <\/span>something<\/span><\/i> in the morning, and what you choose to drink can influence the rest of your day<\/strong>, as well as your long-term health. Consuming a healthy beverage can be an important part of a suite of positive morning habits and rituals.<\/span><\/p>\n

So let\u2019s take a look at a number of different beverages you can enjoy in the morning to support your health, mood, and energy. Then we\u2019ll end with seven different drink recipes for you to try.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider the Purpose of Your Morning Drinks<\/h2>\n

In his mega-bestseller, <\/span>The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<\/span><\/i>, Stephen Covey advised readers to \u201cBegin With the End in Mind\u00ae\u201d (Habit 2). Given that many of us begin the day with our cheeks pressed into drool stains on our pillows, that might be a bit of a tall order first thing. But as we choose our morning routines, it\u2019s a good mindset.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what do you want from your morning beverage? Here are some possible answers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinks That Give You Energy in the Morning<\/span><\/h3>\n
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If you jump out of bed in the morning quivering in anticipation of the day ahead, just bursting with irrepressible energy, you are very much in the minority. In fact, <\/span>surveys<\/span><\/a> suggest that almost two-thirds of Americans say they rarely wake up feeling rested and energized. It makes sense, then, that many people want a burst of energy in the morning, which is one reason caffeinated beverages are so popular.<\/span><\/p>\n

You might begin your day with a beverage to get your motor running, aid with concentration and focus, and boost your mood. While coffee is the poster child for wake-up drinks \u2014 and can offer significant <\/span>health benefits<\/span><\/a> \u2014 alternatives to a cup of Joe can also increase your energy. Some, like <\/span>black<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>green teas<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>coffee-mushroom blends<\/span><\/a>, and commercial energy drinks, also provide caffeine.<\/span><\/p>\n

But caffeine isn\u2019t for everyone, and not everyone reacts well to it.<\/strong> One person\u2019s \u201cThis is a pleasant pick-me-up\u201d may be another\u2019s \u201cWhy is my heart thundering like it\u2019s the last lap of a NASCAR race?\u201d So you may want to start some days (or all) without caffeinating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Energy Drinks with Synthetic Caffeine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some drinks with added caffeine are not the healthiest breakfast beverages. Many contain <\/span>synthetic caffeine<\/span><\/a>, a substance first developed by Monsanto (now Bayer) that appears to behave differently from its natural counterpart. Your body absorbs and metabolizes synthetic caffeine faster, which can lead to a quicker spike in energy and a faster, more dramatic crash afterward. And <\/span>other ingredients<\/span><\/a> in so-called energy drinks, including white sugar and artificial flavors and colors, are also cause for concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Most of the caffeine that’s used in the beverage industry \u2014 for drinks like Red Bull and Rockstar, as well as Coca-Cola and Pepsi \u2014 is the synthetic version.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Coffee Alternatives<\/h3>\n

If you’re not partial to caffeine and are wondering what to drink instead of coffee or tea in the morning, some energizing alternatives include<\/span> chicory root<\/span><\/a> and maca. Chicory root coffee, a New Orleans staple, comes from a root related to dandelion and to sharp salad greens like radicchio, fris\u00e9e, and endive. (Bonus points for wondering if you should pronounce it \u201cen-dive\u201d or \u201con-deeve\u201d in your head just now. The answer, according to the canonically authoritative <\/span>Endive.com<\/span><\/a> website: \u201cen-dive\u201d is for curly endive, the disheveled-looking leafy variety, while the elegant \u201con-deeve\u201d is reserved for the smooth, tightly packed Belgian endive variety.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicory root has sometimes been added to coffee as a tastes-somewhat-like-it filler to help people extend their supply of the more expensive bean. In addition to water, warmth, and taste, chicory root is a rich source of inulin, a kind of insoluble prebiotic fiber that your beneficial gut bacteria absolutely adore<\/strong>. Long prized as an herbal remedy, chicory root\u2019s health benefits have begun to attract <\/span>scientific attention<\/span><\/a> as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chicory root\u2019s <\/span>bitter<\/span><\/a> taste can wake up your appetite and trigger the secretion of bile. At the same time, it has also been used to counter the stimulant effects of coffee, as it can induce relaxation and calm in those who consume it. (That sounds like the best of both worlds to me!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Another plant that makes a fine morning pick-you-up beverage is maca<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> This root from the cruciferous family, originally from the Andes, has become popular since rumors of its <\/span>aphrodisiacal properties<\/span><\/a> began circulating online. While this purported effect may not be entirely welcome at 7:30 in the morning when you\u2019re trying to get the kids dressed and fed and hit the freeway \u2014 or home office desk \u2014 by 8:15, there\u2019s more. Maca may also improve <\/span>mood and brain function<\/span><\/a>, both of which can come in handy when your twins demand an all-potato-chip breakfast, and you are wondering what you did with your keys. (Not that I would know anything about that!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthiest Breakfast Drinks to Hydrate You<\/h2>\n
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Given that most Americans are <\/span>chronically dehydrated<\/span><\/a>, drinking water is generally a good idea pretty much any time. And since most of us start the day by releasing water from our bodies after a night of breathing and sweating away moisture, the morning is a perfect time to rehydrate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people even wake up feeling <\/span>dehydrated<\/span><\/a>. A number of things can exacerbate the body\u2019s nightly water loss, including breathing dysregulation (like snoring, mouth breathing, and sleep apnea), night sweats, an over-warm bedroom, hormonal imbalances, and side effects of common meds, such as antidepressants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in the absence of these factors, it\u2019s a good idea to hydrate when you first wake up<\/strong>, especially if you exercise in the morning. <\/span>Dehydration<\/span><\/a> can cause dry mouth, malaise, foggy thinking, drowsiness, and even dizziness throughout the day. So if you want to perform at your highest level, both mentally and physically, make sure you replace any fluids you\u2019ve lost during the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, there\u2019s evidence that <\/span>water consumption<\/span><\/a> tends to reduce the intake of calories, sugar, and saturated fat \u2014 so, bonus!<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinking Water (or Broth) in the Morning<\/h2>\n

Plain water<\/span><\/a> is a good place to start. One way to decrease the odds of dehydration is to have drinking water accessible and visible right when you get up. A water bottle, tall glass, or mason jar on your bedside table can serve as a visual cue to drink as soon as you wake. Alternatively, set your drinking water on the bathroom counter and drink as soon as you\u2019re done peeing (or do both simultaneously and imagine you\u2019re a straw \u2014 I won\u2019t judge).<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to pure water, you may want to have some vegetable broth in the morning (which naturally contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium), or add electrolytes to your water. (If you\u2019re a fan of the movie <\/span>Idiocracy<\/span><\/i><\/a>, you\u2019ll smile every time you hear the word.) After all, when you sweat, you lose electrolytes along with water. If you like, you can make a <\/span>homemade electrolyte drink<\/span><\/a> or add fruit slices to water.<\/span><\/p>\n

(Sidenote: My favorite \u201cfirst thing\u201d morning drink is a tablespoon of <\/span>Purality Health\u2019s Curcumin Gold<\/span><\/a>, mixed into a glass of water. It\u2019s an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, and tastes pretty good, too.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthy Morning Drink Ideas to Kickstart Your Metabolism<\/h2>\n
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Drinking enough fluids in the morning can jumpstart your metabolism, which helps manage your appetite and weight. Make sure to avoid sugary drinks that can cause blood sugar fluctuations and contribute to food cravings throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even plain drinking water can <\/span>help reduce<\/span><\/a> weight and body fat. To further enhance these effects, some people add a little bit of <\/span>apple cider vinegar<\/span><\/a> to their morning glass of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen that chicory root can get the digestive juices flowing thanks to its compounds that our taste buds file under \u201cbitter.\u201d Another way to boost metabolism and reduce cravings is to add some <\/strong><\/span>plant-based protein<\/a><\/strong> to your morning beverage.<\/strong> No, I\u2019m not suggesting floating tofu cubes in your coffee. But you can add nuts, seeds, or nut or seed butters to smoothies and shakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also compounds in some herbal or \u201c<\/span>fasting<\/span><\/a>\u201d teas called catechins that promote satiety. <\/span>Green tea<\/span><\/a>, for example, contains a catechin called <\/span>epigallocatechin gallate<\/span><\/a> (EGCG) that appears to decrease levels of ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating gut hormone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Vital Nutrients in the Morning<\/h2>\n
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Water is great, and so are electrolytes, but why stop there? There\u2019s a world of awesome nutrients out there, and drinking your fruits and veggies can get them inside you where they can do good things. <\/span>Fresh juices and smoothies<\/span><\/a> are wonderful and tasty delivery systems for vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and many other valuable phytonutrients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Green smoothies<\/span><\/a> pack a particularly powerful nutritional wallop, as the blending appears to increase the bioavailability of phytochemicals found in plant foods. And with smoothies, unlike juices, you get fiber as well. To aid in the absorption of some nutrients and prevent later blood sugar crashes, you can add healthy fats like <\/span>avocados<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>nuts, seeds<\/span><\/a>, or <\/span>nut or seed butters<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some teas can also contribute antioxidants to your diet. That EGCG, which, as we\u2019ve seen, is a catechin and not a New York City punk music club from the 80s, also helps <\/span>prevent free radicals<\/span><\/a> and so protects your cells from damage. A <\/span>12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial<\/span><\/a> found that daily matcha intake improved aspects of cognitive function and sleep quality in older adults. That\u2019s unusually long for a tea study and supports <\/span>matcha<\/span><\/a> as more than \u201cjust another caffeine option.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Relax with a Morning Beverage<\/h2>\n
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What if you don\u2019t want or need a burst of energy first thing in the morning? You can also drink a <\/span>relaxing hot beverage<\/span><\/a> while you listen to Gregorian Chants, Andean flute music, or the soundtrack of a Wes Anderson movie.<\/span><\/p>\n

Golden milks and <\/span>adaptogenic<\/span><\/a> elixirs can be especially comforting in the morning. They provide warmth and comfort on a cold day. And <\/span>teas<\/span><\/a> in particular can stimulate the production of feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Drink in the Morning<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s put our morning beverage options in one place. As you can see from this impressive list, you\u2019ve got a lot of choices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of morning drinks include:<\/span><\/p>\n