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Healthy Living

Ways to wake up without coffee

───   12:30 Fri, 06 May 2016

Ways to wake up without coffee | News Article

Feel you can't wake up in the morning without your precious coffee to help you out? Here are some tips to get you going without relying on a caffeine hit.

A ringing alarm clock spells dread in the morning whether you have to get ready for work or something more relaxed.

And while many of us rely on caffeine to help get us going, if you're looking to cut back on your consumption or have never been a big fan of the beverage's acquired taste, check out some other ways to help invigorate your sleepy mornings.

Find the light

In a new AsapScience video, researchers explain that it is important to "find the light" in order to properly wake up your body. This can be achieved by opening curtains, having a quick step outside or using an illuminating alarm clock to slowly fill your bedroom with light if you need to get up before sunrise. Exposure to light is an important part of waking up, as it helps your body produce less melatonin, a hormone secreted in the brain that plays a major role in regulating sleep.

Cold blast

A sure fire way to make you feel alive is by taking a warm shower and ending it with a blast of cold water. Experts have found that the shock of a cold shower can increase your metabolic rate and can cut down on feelings of fatigue. While this may seem a little harsh at first, perhaps try getting clean with warm water, then gradually turning the temperature down a notch for the final minute.

Rehydrate

If you’re not a morning person, have two glasses of water right after you wake up. It will boost your blood pressure to normal levels, and it's better than having your first coffee on an empty stomach. Drinking water before eating anything is also a good way to purify your internal system, remembering that 70 per cent of the human body content is water.

Listen to music

Listening to music can increase blood pressure, release dopamine throughout the body to activate positive feelings and make your pupils dilate. Set up an a.m. playlist packed with your favourite energising tunes and play it while getting ready. Researchers suggest listening to upbeat music when you're making breakfast and turning to Bach concertos or Handel’s Water Music when you can’t concentrate on your commute.

Drink orange juice

Sipping orange juice can also give you a boost in the morning as the citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids have been linked to slowing cognitive decline from aging, with orange juice also said to increase alertness and brain function. Orange juice also has impressive vitamin C content, with each serving giving a significant portion of the daily recommended value. Vitamin C is responsible for forming collagen, the protein required to produce ligaments, blood vessels, scar tissue, skin and tendons.

Get active

Researchers suggest doing physical activity first thing in the morning can help make you more alert, as it increases blood flow and provides more oxygen to the brain. Heading outside for a morning run may be the last thing you want to do while lying comfortably under the covers, but lacing up your sneakers and doing a burst of exercise, for as little as seven minutes, will release endorphins that'll boost your mood and energy levels.

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