Mothers who don’t drink caffeine are at a serious disadvantage from other mothers. How does one possibly stay awake and alert all day without fueling up? Motherhood requires long hours of work – often on little sleep. If you’re a mom who tries to maintain good health throughout (or, despite) motherhood, you probably wish there was a good alternative to guzzling the addictive, health-deficient drinks that many moms rely upon.

Believe it or not, there are many alternatives that provide a natural boost of energy. They may require more attention and bit more effort, but – once you make them part of your routine – the benefits will sustain, literally and figuratively.

While I’m about to provide you with a list of alternatives to consider, you will have to test them out to see what works for you. And, don’t forget - it is always important to consult your physician when making changes to your health plan.

Siberian ginseng has been used in the East for hundreds – if not thousands – of years. Traditional Chinese medicine uses Siberian ginseng to prevent colds, help the body cope with stress, and to increase energy. As with any herb or supplement you decide to take, it is important to consult with a medical professional first.

Tomato juice – if you like the taste – is a surprisingly good energy booster. Tomatoes contain many nutrients (potassium and vitamin C, for example) helpful in improving the body’s overall efficiency. And, all moms know that when our bodies are working well, we have more stamina.

Teecino is a caffeine-free coffee substitute. It’s made from herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts including carob, barley, chicory, dates, and almonds. While it doesn’t contain caffeine, the nutrients (such as potassium and pinitol) found in Teecino are also found to increase energy levels. It may not taste like coffee, but it seems to satisfy that late-afternoon-must-do-something-to-stay-awake feeling.

As much as we’ve all heard it before, it’s important to say again – your energy levels can go down if you are not drinking enough water. Dehydration can cause exhaustion. Make sure you constantly have a glass of water in your hand or that you are eating fruits and vegetables rich with water.

If you are not able to cut out caffeine entirely, you might want to consider switching to green tea. Green tea has lower amounts of caffeine than coffee, so – as long as you watch how much you consume – you can lower your caffeine levels. Green tea has other health benefits in addition to the lower caffeine levels. It contains antioxidants, has been known to improve athletic endurance, and helps fight against heart disease and cancer.

Simple things like eating a good diet, putting on music, getting enough sleep, stretching, and taking a nap are also energy boosters. Sometimes, it’s making sure you get enough and – other times – it’s making sure you’re not getting too much.

If you are low on energy, you may want to look at your sugar intake. Sugar is an energy zapper. While you may feel a rush of energy immediately after consuming it, excess sugar impacts your blood sugar levels and leads to plunging energy.

It’s important for moms to maintain high energy levels throughout the day. It is my hope the suggestions above will help you take steps to do so without relying on coffee or heavily caffeinated drinks.