Paleo Product Review: Raja's Cup--My Favorite Paleo Coffee Substitute

During law school, I developed a pretty serious coffee addiction.  First, I started off with Starbucks' mochas.  But oh what a slippery slope it is!  Mmm.  So delicious.  I don't profess to be a connoisseur or anything, but like many, Starbucks introduced me to the world of coffee.  From mochas, I started on iced coffees.  Then I pared it down to a tall Pike's "with room."  Everyday.   Without fail.  I was so utterly devoted to my Starbucks addiction that I just could not begin my day without it.  I told myself I was not a caffeine addict, because, you know, "I only have one cup a day."  Little did I realize, that Starbucks coffee is so caffeinated, a tall cup of Starbucks Pike Place is like drinking three cups of regular coffee?!?!  So, even though I *thought* I was drinking one cup, I was consuming the caffeine content of three.  In one little. innocent. inviting. happy. cup of Starbucks coffee.  *sigh*  Yeah.  I still miss it.

By the time I graduated from law school and took the bar exam, I was at my heaviest weight ever.  My energy levels were low.  My body felt terrible.  I felt dehydrated all the time, but didn't really have a desire to drink water.  It was bad.  And so, I put myself on the "cleanse" diet that my holistic practitioner recommended.  It's very similar to the autoimmune Paleo protocol.  This of course, means no caffeine.  I went through about 24-48 hours of headache, brain fog, exhaustion before I come out of it.  The caffeine headache I got was so serious, it felt like a migraine--nausea, sensitivity to light, etc.  But once I got through the 4-5 day detoxification period, I felt amazing.

While I am aware that coffee is not a Paleo no-no--for me it is.  You must know, I do love coffee.  For me, having that nice cup of hot, roasted, bitter, coffee was like meeting up with a friend every morning.  But I know that it contributed to my lack of energy.  I'd much rather get my energy from natural, healthy sources, rather than relying on a stimulant.  And if I'm tired, my body is trying to tell me something.  Maybe I should listen to it.