Hi-Ball Caffeinated Mineral Water is Nice
A couple of weeks ago, I ditched coffee. I was generally a one-iced-mocha-in-the-morning guy with the occasional refresher towards the end of the day.
Bad.
Coffee as part of a routine is kind of like cigarettes as part of a routine. It’s not exactly good for you, and once you’re used to it, you need it just to feel “normal”.
Quitting coffee, however, doesn’t mean I never want an occasional dose of caffeine. There are all sorts of alternatives out there like Red Bull, Jolt, hot tea, or iced tea, but I think I found my favorite:
Hi-Ball Sparkling Energy Water
Hi-Ball tastes like San Pellegrino or Perrier, is available in plain or lightly flavored, and contains no sugar, sucralose, or other sweeteners. Its caffeine comes naturally from guarana berries and it also contains 120% of your daily B vitamins (whatever those do).
So if you’re looking for a reasonably harmless caffeinated drink to try, see if you can find Hi-Ball at your local store. Most places around Seattle don’t have it but I’ve found a few that do.
While I don’t begrudge your decision to switch off coffee, I just checked and can’t find any indication that coffee is bad for you. In fact, most of the information I find shows that it will curtail a lot of diseases:
http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food
But, for me, I just love the way it tastes. I suppose if I ever end up in a men’s restroom {censored} for a fix, I’ll consider giving it up.
(Editor’s Note: Cmon man, this is a family establishment! :) With regard to health, I’m talking about calories in mochas, daily dependence on caffeine, and tooth darkening effects… none of which are awful, but put together, they aren’t great)
Coke Vanilla Zero – my current addiction.
IIRC, Caffeine inhibits the distribution/creation of a chemical that is created methodically throughout the day to make you feel tired. A massive drop-shot of caffeine (morning coffee) doesn’t do a whole lot of good, but tiny bits of caffeine throughout the day can actually be quite beneficial.
If I didn’t just wake up from a nap I’d more be inclined to look for further evidence.
How ironic is THAT?
Seek the golden mean. Good sleep, normal primate circadian schedule, and caffeine consumption in moderation. People would be surprised by their total caffeine intake during the day: coffee, soda, etc.
I’m intrigued by the censored part of Brian’s comment – what on EARTH can he have said? The most intriguing part is that the words ‘men’s restroom’ and ‘fix’ have been left in. What removed item of dodginess could make that sentence any less family than it still is?
I, too, would miss the taste and smell and ritual of coffee if I gave it up. I understand the arguments for quitting caffeine, but not for quitting coffee and replacing it with alternative caffeine sources.
Respectfully, if you want caffeine why not drink coffee? It’s delicious!
If you’re foolishly giving up coffee, in spite of its ultra-sexy, teeth-darkening effects (fool!), at least you have the good sense to keep caffeine part of your diet. (un-fool!) Caffeine is good for you and not at all addictive. That headache you feel in the morning after you stupidly cut caffeine out of your life — that’s not “withdrawal.” That’s the way people who *don’t* drink coffee feel *every* *single* *day*. They just don’t know it because they don’t drink coffee.
Tom: Haha. Yeah, it is what you probably think it is. I normally don’t censor anything (not sure if I ever have actually!) but it’s the first damn comment and it’s just a little graphic when you read the actual text. Anyway, no hard feelings from me of course. :)
With regard to continuing to drink caffeine, the idea is that Hi-Ball will not become a part of the routine. Coffee, to me, just screams routine because it has been part of mine for several years. If I can keep my Hi-Balls to one or two per week, and not in the morning, I have no problem with that.
@Tom: I was thinking ‘Basketball Diaries’ on that one.
@Mike: To be fair, an iced mocha isn’t JUST coffee. There’s some coffee in it, but there’s also flavoring, cream/milk, and a ton of sugar. Regular plain ol’ black coffee is definitely not something you have to give up for health reasons (necessarily). I used to drink a caramel machiatto every other day or so – THAT was bad – but now I drink several cups of black coffee a day with no worries. Also, I saw Hi-Ball at the store but didn’t give it a try – I think I’ll check it out.
I have never thought about mike’s perspective on something being bad for you if it is a part of your daily routine and you don’t feel normal if you miss it. Good point. But, I enjoy my morning coffee, so I’ll keep drinking my home brewed Dunkee’s coffee.
BTW, Hi Ball has a very slick little flash site going on. I was very impressed with the creativity and the smooth animations.
They make your pee neon yellow, and apparently are healthy.
When I need to stay alert, I take caffeine tablets. All I want is the caffeine, so why make my body process the extra sugar, chemicals, or other crap in the energy drinks when I just want the stimulant.
They are cheap (MUCH cheaper than any beverage), work fast, and let me eat or drink whatever I want. Also, I only use them when I need them, I don’t get locked into a routine.
Re: My first comment.
Yeah, I can see why it was edited. Sometimes when you’re typing when you should be going to bed, you don’t think through what you’re about to submit. So, we’ll just pretend I said “shaking hands in a men’s bathroom” and leave it at that.
Plus, I tend to forget that Mike’s blog is primarily frequented by 14 year old girls, and that we must be sensitive to that demographic.
Back on topic:
Yeah, I definitely agree that Coffee becomes a necessity, but on the scale of things to become addicted to, I just don’t see much of an issue, especially considering the aforementioned health benefits. When it gets to the point where I fall into that category of people who “need” something but hate that I need it — I’ll have to consider giving it up. As it stands, I still love that instantaneous feeling of “ahhhhhhhhh” I get after my first sip in the morning.
The only bad routine is a routine you’ve ceased to enjoy.
I know what you mean about the Caffeine. I gave up drinking soda & coffee (I like the iced variety too) on a regular basis a few years ago and forced myself to drink regular water instead.
It wasn’t easy at first, but after a while I found myself sub consciously going for a glass of water over the other alternatives and always asking for it when going out to eat.
It takes a little getting used to not having that pick me up, but the body gets used to it.
Now every once in a while I can treat myself to an iced coffee or soda and not feel guilty :)
If you really need to get your morning dose of caffeine then get it in the shower using caffiene soap. What!?
This stuff is every bit as bad-tasting as Talking Rain, but it’s certainly much better than the über-caffeinated alternatives. And I only drink them to head off an afternoon stupor at the office.
Of course, always not drinking coffee is every bit the routine drinking it every day was.
Coffe is beneficial to health, and if you drink it moderately (1-2 cups per day) you probably will live longer! :-)
Why quit? ;-)
@Nate: By that standard, I’ve got all kinds of routines — not beating my wife, not robbing banks, not jabbing a sharp pencil into my left eye — each and every day.
@JoJo: I gave up jabbing sharp pencils into my left eye. I have felt a lot better since. Whenever I get the urge, I turn the pencil around and use the eraser.
Talking rain is the bomb. I absolutely love hot coffee in the morning – 2, 3 cups minimum. Straight up black!
Is an iced latte coffee? hmm…
Have any of you tried Kagome? No…no caffeine. It’s fruit juice and vegetable juice mixed into the most delicious, 30 oz bottle-’costing only $3.89′ I’ve ever tasted. It will make you feel sexy and healthy all at the same time, and it might even give you a boost to boot.
Try “genmaicha” green tea, its a japanese style green tea that has toasted rice which adds a roasty flavor and is great for weaning off coffee (altho iced mochas may be a different story). You aslo get major antioxidants and no acidity. Green tea has just the right amount of caffiene in it that you can drink it all day long if you want.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genmaicha
Mike:
Have you tried Potenza caffeine enhanced spring water? It has no calories, no artificial sweeteners or flavors and no chemical preservatives. It tastes like refreshing spring water. It has 100 mg of caffeine in a .5 liter bottle, just like a cup of coffee, but doesn’t stain your teeth or have a funny taste. It is bottled in Oregon and should be available through Columbia Distributors in Seattle.
Dan: Interesting. Haven’t tried that. Will look for it. Thanks!
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