Depending on where you find your information, you will hear and read that coffee is either great for you, or it is absolutely terrible. One thing, however, is for certain: caffeine turns glucose into fat, which makes coffee with sugar bad. Also, coffee with cream or half and half is no better for you thank drinking that cream or half and half on your own. And finally, it’s never good to be “addicted to” or “dependent upon” something, which is the place many coffee drinkers find themselves in. If you are thinking about trying to cut out coffee, or if you are just thinking about trying to balance your coffee drinking with something else, here are three great options.

1) Tea: Although the caffeine content in tea is lower than coffee, you will also find that it is a healthier alternative. Green tea can help with digestive disorders, and all tea contains antioxidants that are helpful in fighting diseases. Furthermore, green tea helps to maintain stable blood sugar levels for those who suffer from diabetes. You can also drink tea all day long, without fearing the adverse effects that can come from drinking coffee all day.

2) Yerba Mate: Many people think of Yerbe Mate as a form of tea, but actually it is not. Yerbe Mate comes from the yerba mate plant of South America. Yerbe Mate can be brewed in a regular coffee pot, and it can be purchased in packaged form at such stores as Whole Foods. While Yerba Mate tends to have very low caffeine levels, it also has a stimulating effect on the body. Yerbe Mate has additional health benefits compared to tea or coffee, while yeilding a similar effect. Yerba Mate is considered to be an acquired taste, but if you are feeling adventurous in your quest to kick the coffee habit, it is definitely worth a shot.

3) Fruit or vegetable juice: Fruit juice and vegetable juice can be great alternatives to coffee. These drinks are full of useful vitamins, and you can avoid the piles of sugar and the nasty preservatives by making the drinks at home or by buying organic. These drinks will leave your body feeling clean and refreshed, even if they do not provide that kick you are used to experiencing from coffee.

It’s not easy to kick the coffee habit, but these alternatives will help you move one step closer to achieving your goal.