Beetroot Latte
The pretty pink latte certainly has Insta appeal to spare. It's a great caffeine-free hot drink that offers health benefits, too: You see, beets are rich in antioxidants and have high levels of dietary nitrates. (The good kind!) Plus, unlike actual beets, beetroot lattes are less messy (and thus have less potential for stains). Just watch out for fillers and added sugars or colors in beetroot powders — formulas should be as pure as possible.
Pro-tip: Some people mix their beetroot powders with other spices like vanilla bean powder, cinnamon, ginger and sometimes a pinch of chili.
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Green Tea
There's a reason some people swear by green tea over coffee — and it's not just about taste or caffeine hits. Bowerman says that green tea contains a plethora of polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of several common forms of cancer.
And the health benefits don't stop there: Green tea consumption is also associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Consider upgrading to matcha (a more concentrated powdered form of green tea) or try a matcha latte made with your choice of milk.
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Black Chai With Milk
A delicious chai has the same warming feeling as a cup of joe. Black tea provides some caffeine, plus it may help keep blood pressure regular and protect against heart disease. Adding in some milk gives the drink a creamy consistency, while also providing protein, calcium and vitamin D, says Bowerman. Spices (e.g. ginger, cinnamon, cardamom) take the flavor to the next level and act as antioxidants. There are plenty of chai spice blends; go-getters could also make their own.
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Hot Lemon Water
Why make things complicated in the morning when they don't need to be? A glass of hot water with lemon does the body some serious good. Many celebs swear by the simple drink and the hype has reached pretty crazy levels. Yes, there are some outlandish claims out there, but the body does get dehydrated at night, so a glass of hot lemon water is a great way to replenish and kick start systems. Some also find the hotter temperature and lemon more palatable compared to cold, plain water.
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Hot Cocoa Made With Nonfat Milk
You had us at "hot cocoa." That said, we're talking about a more virtuous — but still delicious — drink than the one you might have had in mind. Bowerman suggests mixing dark cocoa powder made with little-to-no sugar and some milk. The combination is similar to coffee with milk or cream, but the caffeine is minimal. (One tablespoon of dark cocoa powder "technically" does not have caffeine, but Bowerman says it really has about 12 mg, compared to about 100 mg in a typical cup of coffee.) Cocoa powder has antioxidant-rich polyphenols which are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease while milk provides vitamin D, protein and calcium.
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