Thread: No Caffeine, Now What?

One of the first things to go when I'm transitioning to more than 2 sleep periods in a day is caffeine. I simply can't drink any caffeinated beverage and still nap more than once per day. But this is kind of a problem. I'm not a hardcore addict, but there are definitely times when I feel like I need a little pick up, an extra mental boost.

Anyone have suggestions for non-caffeinated alternatives for giving yourself a little kick which lasts for just a few hours at most?

TIA

-asher

How about green tea? I know it's still caffeine but not nearly as stong. Also, there is Yerba mate, a south american plant that a tea is made from. It has a form of caffeine that is different than coffee or tea, which is supposed to be much milder, and I find that to be true. Hot chocolate would have a very tiny amount, that would probably wear off pretty quickly. Maybe a cigarette? (just kidding.)

That may not help if you want to avoid caffeine entirely. Being an addict myself, I can't imagine life without tea and coffee, but I've messed up my own night-time sleep with it, so I can imagine it would interfere big-time with polyphasic.

Life without caffiene?

Sugar is always good for a quick rush. Of course, that has it's own problems. Maybe you could go half caffiene on your coffee?

Originally Posted by Moonbeam

How about green tea? I know it's still caffeine but not nearly as stong. Also, there is Yerba mate, a south american plant that a tea is made from. It has a form of caffeine that is different than coffee or tea, which is supposed to be much milder, and I find that to be true.[/b]

Originally Posted by Moonbeam

Life without caffiene?

Sugar is always good for a quick rush. Of course, that has it's own problems. Maybe you could go half caffiene on your coffee?[/b]

I've tried Yerba Mate. Hate the taste. Can't do sugar since I it makes me crash and feel like crap not long afterwards.

Speaking of S.A. plants, what would be really nice is if I could get coca leaf tea here in the US. For those who haven't tired it, you get a very nice, calm push that's isn't too harsh. Maybe I could try small amounts of green tea though. Seems like even decaf coffee messes up my sleep schedule

Caffeine has a near opposite effect on me, it makes me sleepy.
Tea makes me sleepy but also helps me concentrate.

Theres a soda called Materva which has that yerba mate in it. Have you tried that? I love the taste but, supposedly it drops your sperm count. I'm not so sure of it being a "non-caffeinated alternative" but it sure gives me a little kick. A thing that always seems to get me on a "few hour high" is grouper soup. However, when i do go to sleep it'll be for a while..

Originally Posted by decojones

Theres a soda called Materva which has that yerba mate in it. Have you tried that? I love the taste but, supposedly it drops your sperm count. I'm not so sure of it being a "non-caffeinated alternative" but it sure gives me a little kick. A thing that always seems to get me on a "few hour high" is grouper soup. However, when i do go to sleep it'll be for a while..[/b]

OK. I'll see if they have Materva next time I'm at the hispanic grocery store. Do you mean grouper soup as in the fish or is this some special code word I'm missing?

I'd go with just plain chocolate. Chocolate contains Theobromine, a chemical related to, but not synonymous with caffeine.
It differs in that it stimulates the nervous system less, but the heart more, so it shouldn't keep you up nearly as much as caffeine.
A good bar of dark chocolate contains quite a bit of theobromine, but not a lot of caffeine, so it shouldn't have quite as big of an impact.

Yea I mean the fish grouper, you should really try it!

OK. It's almost 7am here. Didn't follow my schedule as well as I should of last night, and I'm dogging it this morning. Going to try a little sushi bar mild green tea.

If that fails I'll force down some Yerba mate (we have some in the house), pop a couple chocolate chips, try to hunt down a can of Materva and visit my local fish monger for some grouper and soup recipes.

Ginseng.

If you haven't used it, go easy at first and note how it affects you.

Note that not all ginseng is equal.

Originally Posted by pj

Ginseng.

If you haven't used it, go easy at first and note how it affects you.

Note that not all ginseng is equal.[/b]

pj how do you recommend taking ginseng? In capsules? In tea?

-asher

I've heard that Ginsing and Guarana. I actually think that Guarana is a source of caffine, but it is a bit different.

I like getting prepared ginseng and just eating it. It comes in foil packets with a slice in each. I drink ginseng tea a bit in the winter, but for the "kick" there's nothing like just eating it. Never tried the capsules.

Head to an Asian shop and ask; they'll lay out the options for you, and explain the different types.

I've tried Yerba Mate. Hate the taste. Can't do sugar since I it makes me crash and feel like crap not long afterwards.[/b]

Heh, I drink that stuff all the time (being of Argentinian descent). The taste is something you acquire after some time. I gotta have it with sugar, myself. However, what I think really makes it taste good is dropping in a couple chunks of orange rinds - that really enhances the flavor quite a bit (kind of neutralizes the bitter with some tang). Lemon rind works as well.

Using honey instead of regular sugar might help as well. But really, even though mate is not scientifically caffiene, it's only like one molecule away from it, and you might as well be drinking coffee if you want it for that "pick me up" quality. Only difference is that mate is a good diuretic and actually has some health benefits compared to coffee.

I drink it mainly as a habit, something to do when watching TV or working on a painting or project. I've noticed if I have it anytime after 9pm, though, I'll likely have issues falling asleep.

Originally Posted by Tornado

Heh, I drink that stuff all the time (being of Argentinian descent). The taste is something you acquire after some time. I gotta have it with sugar, myself. However, what I think really makes it taste good is dropping in a couple chunks of orange rinds - that really enhances the flavor quite a bit (kind of neutralizes the bitter with some tang). Lemon rind works as well.

Using honey instead of regular sugar might help as well. But really, even though mate is not scientifically caffiene, it's only like one molecule away from it, and you might as well be drinking coffee if you want it for that "pick me up" quality. Only difference is that mate is a good diuretic and actually has some health benefits compared to coffee.

I drink it mainly as a habit, something to do when watching TV or working on a painting or project. I've noticed if I have it anytime after 9pm, though, I'll likely have issues falling asleep.[/b]

Seems like Yerba Mate is as much ritual as drug for a lot of people in Argentina and Uruguay, no? I once heard it described as tasting like like soggy ashes. Yummmm....

OK. Don't mean to be harsh. To each his own taste. Maybe if I mix the Mate up with some Ginseng, Grouper and Honey I'll get a real nice taste and kick

Have you tried these?

Areca catechu - Betel Nut
(Palmae) The nuts of this tropical palm tree form the basis of a stimulant betel chew which has a reputation as a panacea. As well as a stimulant Betel is also used in Ayurvedic medecine for headaches, stomach pains, venereal disease, fever, rheumatism and a number of other complaints. Theophrastus made references to the betel nut which also appears in early Sanskrit texts under then name 'guvka' or 'pinlang'. In India it has also been integrated within the social and religious system, the gods are said to lack betel in heaven and that humans should offer them betel to keep them in a beneficial mood. Also used as a magical charm and amulet thought to protect against the evil eye and ward off demons. In Indian cultures the knowledge of traditional preparation methods for betel nut is considered nigh on a high art and special variations of recipes are often passed on through generations as revered knowledge.

Cola nitida - Kola Nut

Any bronchodilator with ephedrine sulfate will give you a bit more energy.

Serotonin..

[Get out in the sun more! (?) ... ]

Go for a jog around the block - 1 minute run, 1 minute walk. Make sure you sweat.
That should help.

And the reason caffiene is a problem is that it has a 4 hours HALF life. i.e. 4 hours of strong effect, 4 hours of lesser effect.
So if you're trying to do uberman, you only have 3.5 hours between naps. 4 hours is a problem.
And you can't have coffee after 2 consecutive naps, otherwise the half-life is gonna nail you even more.
This is one reason why I took an easier schedule that had 6 hours between the morning, midday and evening nap - You can get away with a morning coffee.

They also say that an apple is quite effective at waking you up. Try eating more apples, or drinking apple juice.
If nothing else, the fructose will wake you somewhat, and it's less extreme than refined sugar as in chocolate.
Chocolate is gonna give you the rocky effect of high/low.

Dark Chocolate
it wakes you up with sugar and other substances. You also said that you crash if you use sugar, well...then eat some more!

That leads to a bumpy ride of highs and lows. And if you constantly spike your sugar levels like that, you'll slowly develop insulin resistance and eventually type 2 diabetes

Well, I seem to have picked up a Diet Coke habit (if two days in a row can be called a habit). Both times I had the drink in the morning or late morning, and it didn't seem to effect my napping. I'll try to substitute something else soon though as we all know what a marvelous thing Coke is for your health.

It does give me the little mental boost I seem to be needing. I'll try experimenting with some more of the items mentioned here when I get back home.

BTW I am now pretty much insisting that others deal with the fact that I nap. And you know what? A lot of family/friends are napping when I do. It's like there is some taboo here in the US about it not being manly or polite or whatever to just take a siesta when you want/need too. But if you show people it's ok they often will follow your lead.

#asher

Interesting with the napping aspect, but both my parents are over 50 and they nap all the time. Of course I don't follow there lead because when they are sleeping, I can do what I want

But on the Sugar spiking technique, is it actually dangerous to do that stuff. I mean hypothetically speaking if someone sugar spiked the whole day would that be bad. should I stop...should this hypothetical person stop.

Just bringing this up again but getting exercise is a great way to wake up. Go out and run the dog or mow the lawn while jogging, or after you mowed the lawn five times in one week, you could just jog to be healthy. Kinda just repeating what Placebo said.

I used to take Ginseng capsules. It gave me very nice 'kick' not to big but I was feeling very energised There was a problem though, after some time taking it I had problems with sleeping. Maybe i tooked too much..? My advise is not to take big amounts in the first week, after that time if you wont feel any difference you may increse the dose.