Ever wish you could have access to sustained energy that would keep you going during those long summer days of barbequing and concerts and into the night for dancing and partying? What about those week-long festivals when you get only two or three hours of sleep a night, if that? Is it possible to feel good and energized throughout that entire time?

That was the experiment I jumped into when I decided to try Okana as my only source of energy/caffeine at two different festivals. I choose not to drink alcohol, and haven’t for many years. While I’m super happy with my decision, I like to have some kind of special beverage as a pick-me-up at high energy events. 

At a four-day festival where I was camped out, I woke up in my tent every morning and ventured outside to boil water. I didn’t have any sweetener or milk on hand because I was traveling lightly, so I mixed Okana in the boiling water in my blue camping coffee mug and drank it straight. Within fifteen minutes, I perked up and within the hour I felt an influx of energy that made me feel I had slept eight hours instead of three. I think it’s the adaptogenic herbs in Okana that make me feel that way- they are so nourishing to my nervous system and make me feel calm and alert at the same time. Is it possible to be addicted to something that’s not addictive? Because I am.

I went and swam in the lake, danced, spent time with friends, and with the exception of a thirty-minute nap in the afternoon, I was able to party and dance all night (without “help” from any substances) and stayed up until 5am, four days in a row, without feeling burnout or exhaustion. 

I’ve been drinking Okana every morning for three months now. At first I was hesitant because I’m sensitive to caffeine and was worried it would negatively impact my sleep. But I have to say that Okana is the first caffeinated beverage (including green tea and chai tea) I’ve had that actually helps me sleep better at night! I think because the adaptogenic herbs soothe my nervous system and adrenals, and it has a cumulative effect when taken every day. My nervous system is nourished, I feel good, and I am able to truly rest.

Ever wish you could have access to sustained energy that would keep you going during those long summer days of barbequing and concerts and into the night for dancing and partying?

You feel like you're always exhausted AND struggling to sleep, your heart is racing, you're easily hurt and feel depressed without a reason, you randomly panic, you're working extra hours and don't get the job done, you're easily irritated?

You're amongst the 20% of the American people suffering from anxiety. You're not alone!

As Bruce Lipton demonstrates in his inspiring book The Biology of Belief, there is a direct interaction between your mental balance and your physical health. We can do better at aligning the mind and body while having a big city life. 

We're no gurus, but here's a list of social, mental and bio hacks to improve your peace and harmony.

"Without data, you're just another person with an opinion", right? So let's get some data. An easy way to take a glance at a subject is to use google trends. While typing "stress" in Google trends, it's stunning. The lower points of the curve are during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Family moments. 

So getting closer to your loved ones seems to take you away from googling Stress - probably meaning that you feel less concerned by it. Another interpretation could be: those times are off for a majority of people. Taking time off, leaving your job for a few days or weeks is probably very sane for your mental health. And I bet you'll be back stronger. 

Especially if you live in a big city, there's a tendency to just never stop the hustle and add more pressure on a racing lifestyle and challenging projects. You want to make 6 figures, then 7, then 8, then 9, it's easy to never get satisfied with what you have. 

Don't get me wrong, challenging yourself and personal growth are important. We believe that ambition is not a perversion. But it has to be correlated with a positive ideal and not an everlasting chase of simply “more” stuff (money, IG followers, work titles, individual performance, pleasures, hype and the list goes on).

Have you heard that "Food is medicine"? We've all been through this feeling after a heavy stop at Five Guys. Sure you liked it on the spot, but how do you feel one hour after? Ask yourself how do you feel after a healthy meal made of wholefood and organic veggies and plant-based proteins? Naturally energized, easier digestion and happier mood. 

About that, we invite you to take a look at Darien Olien's book Superlife, he's very good at correlating healthy food with mental and physical health. OK, one Five Guys here and there is not gonna kill you...

Is it proven that laughing improves mental health? Actually… yes. And the best evidence is that laughing releases endorphins… a chemical naturally produced in your body that has a direct effect on your mood. It also helps stimulate many organs like heart, lungs and muscles plus soothe your tension. Beyond biological effects, laughing mentally tells your brain to let it go, turn your back on all this seriousness that is deeply anxiogenic. So enter here Friends or other comedies, one man shows or your most funny friend! 

At first, you're reluctant to do it. Am I looking a little ridiculous vocalizing my gratitudes? I mean, who cares. Guess what, we now know that it is effective. Studies have been conducted on stress and mental health and the link between verbal gratitudes and a better mood is made. 

Here is a simple technique easy to implement to your morning or evening routine: voice out loud (not in your mind, it works less, don't be shy) 3 things you are grateful for today. I promise, even after the worst day of your life, you can spot 3 things. If the day was rough, focus on very simple things, like some sunlight on your face, the beauty of the architecture, a kind word heard, a good dish, a touching song etc. 

Anxiety is biological AND psychological. Either way, it comes from something, sometime, someone or somewhere and it's your job to find its source. 

People can help but you're the one who has the answers to those questions: How long has it been going? Did it start after a specific event? Did I feel like that in the past given different circumstances? Is there a mental pattern? Am I genuinely aligned with my lifestyle? 

Studies have shown that sleepless nights raise anxiety level by 30%. The link between anxiety and sleep is almost obvious. Sleep deprivation has a direct impact on your mood, nervousness, mental clarity, ability to socialize and other down sides that we have all experienced. 

Now, what's the egg and what's the chicken? If you're anxious you're probably struggling to get good night sleep, and when you have sleeping troubles you're more subject to anxiety. 

Some good first steps: eat healthy (see above) and do sport, get physical exercise, go for a run or to the gym, if you don't like it, go for a walk, 30' should be enough to see the difference. 

Not to brag out but we can help with that! It's now documented that coffee may have an impact on your stress levels. 

Don't get me wrong, if a vast majority of Americans drink coffee, it's because caffeine is a potent nootropic for energy and focus. But with an average of 100 to 120 mg of caffeine in your cup of joe, the effects on your adrenal glands trigger adrenaline throughout your body and eventually crashes your nerves down. 

And then, what do you do? You take another coffee. Brilliant. You've just started a pitfall. 

Read here why you should totally or partially switch to Okana instead. Made of the healthiest and perfect amount of caffeine, mixed with the best adaptogens and superfoods, it reconciles energy with mental AND physical health.  

It's like trying to swim against the flow of the river. Maybe it's a good idea to switch direction.

It's a natural reaction for humans to respond to an attack by fighting against it. In the case of anxiety, how about looking at it from another direction? How about becoming your own inner and mental Gandhi? Stop fighting against your stress. 

Take some time to acknowledge your stress. Accept its presence and look at what exactly it reflects. It's no news that the best things happen when you turn your weaknesses into superpowers. You're stressed? Great chances you're someone sensitive and sensitivity is a pure gem in a world filled with heartless hustlers. 

10. Find a meaningful pastime to get involved in

When anxiety is more mental than physical, most often it comes from a misalignment between your lifestyle and true values. You're a hardcore vegan working for a corporate bank? Doesn't seem like a true alignment, does it? 

Does that mean you have to quit and help save the turtles in Mexico? Probably not, you probably don't have this freedom anyway (kids, loans, lifestyle, etc.) 

So then what about getting some more time off and dedicate it to a cause that's meaningful to you. Not to the people you expect appreciation from. Something for you. It can be non profit, a valuable leisure, spending more time in nature, going on a trip. Let's be creative here.  

At Okana, we crafted a beverage that's no bullshit about providing healthy energy, sharp focus, holistic wellness and an immunity boost. Basically a not-a-coffee that doesn't crash you down but takes care of your body AND mind. 

Why? We claim that mental health is the key cause of today's western societies. 

You feel like you're always exhausted? You're struggling to sleep? Your heart is racing? You’re easily irritated? You're amongst the 20% of the American people suffering from anxiety or stress. We hear you!

You suffer from chronic fatigue, you have headaches, lack of mental clarity, sometimes clouded vision, you sometimes have to take deep breath to properly ventilate, you feel your blood racing through your veins? Or, you easily flush, you're constantly nervous or even sometimes dizzy?

You may be part of the half of the US adult population suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure. 

When half of a society is suffering from a non native (most of the time) symptom, maybe there is a reflection to have as a whole. Risks related from long period of high blood pressure can be heart disease, heart attack or stroke. 

If you suffer from heavy hypertension, what you need is to consult a doctor. If the symptoms are more limited, here are a list of mental and bio hacks that can help you! 

Losing weight (even a few pounds) has proven positive effect on your blood pressure (among others great benefits). Overweight and higher blood pressure are correlated and can also cause some sleep apnea which may increase the symptoms. 

Two and a half hours of physical activity per week has proven efficiency at lowering high blood pressure. It helps regulate your blood circulation and strengthen the heart. 

The key thing is, it has to be regular. You'd rather do less every week than 2h30 one week and then stop for the rest of the month. So do something you like and will enjoy doing every day or so. 

Not all of us like the gym or running. Walking is easy and can fit with a great walk in a neighborhood you love. 

We won't urge it enough, food is medicine. But what does that mean, exactly? I eat every day, you might say. 

First thing, avoid as much processed foods as possible. Everything that is precooked, packed, industrial (for example big bakery companies), everything that has refined sugar, preservatives, and other chemicals. 

As much as you can, go for wholefoods and even ideally raw. For example, do you know that ginger has a proven positive effect on blood pressure? 

You can also take a look at Darien Olien's book Superlife, it will help you navigate through the right aisles of your grocery store. 

Following up with the above hack, cutting down salt is a good idea. A cut in your sodium intake, in all forms (salt but also take a look at the ingredients list of the food you buy). 

Sodium is especially high in processed foods. You can go progressively, the palate adapts with time. You can also switch to spices or herbs to add flavor. 

Drink less alcohol (and more healthier booz effects) 

We all know this excitement we feel after a couple of beers or glasses of wine. The body and mind start to accelerate. So does the blood pressure. Not to mention if you go on a bender and are gonna practice binge drinking or similar. 

We know it helps socialize and gives another twist to a dinner or a party, so don't hesitate to have a look at new alcohol alternatives. They use natural nootropics and mix it with potent adaptogens which have effects on your mood. 

Okana can be used like an alcohol alternative to help you socialize and feel good without the hangover. 

James Dean was cool smoking with his cigarette neglected in the mouth, but it was 70 years ago - just quit. Nicotine actually acts similarly to alcohol (probably why this association is so strongly addictive), it's an excitant and will raise your blood pressure. 

Stop smoking might not be so easy and we found a great tip list there. In general, people who manage to definitely stop smoking explain the same trigger. 

You need to realize that not smoking is actually more pleasurable than smoking. 

Big city life is intense. Traffic jam, people racing everywhere, fighting for almost anything, grabbing a cab, hustling for this promotion, getting a table at that stylish restaurant, etc. Stress triggers adrenaline rush, which raises your blood pressure. 

Find time and a quiet shelter to step out of this crazy life. Also a good idea to organise yourself to avoid usual stress triggers life traffic jams, subway affluence and usually crowded places.

Not to brag out but we can help with that! It's now documented that coffee may have an impact on your stress levels. We mentioned alcohol and nicotine, but caffeine also pays its tribute, especially past a certain dose that varies from one to another. 

With an average of 100 to 120 mg of caffeine in your coffee, after a couple of cups, adrenaline races throughout your body and raises your blood pressure. 

Read here why you should totally or partially switch to Okana instead. Made of the healthiest and perfect amount of caffeine, mixed with the best adaptogens and superfoods, it brings energy while calming your adrenal glands.  

"Without data, you're just another person with an opinion", right? It's easy to find hypertension monitors online. If you feel your blood pressure is high, monitor it every day and you can start correlating peaks with specific triggers. Bring your doctor in the loop, causes are not always obvious. 

We know that when you sleep your blood pressure goes down. So actually not sleeping enough contributes to maintaining hypertension. 

Sleep deprivation has a direct impact on your mood, nervousness, mental clarity, ability to socialize and other down sides that we have all experienced. Good ways to improve sleep are: eat healthy (see above) and do sport (also above). 

At Okana, we crafted a beverage that's no bullshit about: providing healthy energy, sharp focus, holistic wellness and an immunity boost. Basically a not-a-coffee that doesn't crash you down but takes care of your body AND mind. 

You suffer from chronic fatigue? You have headaches? Lack of mental clarity? You sometimes have to take deep breath to properly ventilate? You feel your blood racing through your veins? You're probably suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure.

Black water --> Superfoods and Adaptogens

Modest consumption of coffee undoubtedly comes with mid health benefits. Coffee has, for example, anticarcinogenic properties. But let's be honest, you're not drinking modest amounts of coffee. You're quaffing it like you're stuck in the Arabian Desert and coffee is a bucket of water. 

Why drink something with neutral and even negative health benefits when you can drink something with the same – or better – benefits as coffee, and with a host of positive health benefits? 

Okana is plumb full of Yerba Maté, Licorice, Reishi, Lion's Mane, Ginseng, Ginger, Cinnamon, Lucuma, and Ashwagandha. This means that you get not only the energy and focus boosting benefits that you need, but also the health boosting benefits that you want. So put down your cup of black water and raise a cup of health. 

Most varieties of coffee have a high acid content. Not only naturally, but the brewing process releases nine major acids that contribute to its unique flavor profile. While this is generally harmless to most people, consuming high amounts of coffee – especially for those with certain pre-existing conditions – can lead to some negative health effects. 

The most common side effect is coffee's ability to act as a laxative. Yes, running to the bathroom after your cup of coffee is normal. No, that's not normal in general. Coffee can also trigger or compound indigestion, acid reflux, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome. 

None of these triggers or risks are necessary. Okana has a low acidity level, which means that you can drink as much as you'd like without risking an unexpected bathroom run in the middle of your meeting, or feeling the burn in your throat at the gym. Remember, low acidity is better. Unless you're trying to become an acid-spewing villain in a Marvel movie. 

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, and is easily the world's most popular high-caffeine beverage. People drink it for good reason: coffee is a known nootropic that helps with physical energy and mental focus. But this comes with negative outcomes. 

Coffee, like a drug, attacks the central nervous system. It also triggers your adrenal gland, which is the source of stress production in your body. Over time, our body adapts to its effects. Like anything else in life, we need a little bit more to experience the same benefits. One more sip, one more cup, one more pot. 

Even worse is that coffee delivers highly concentrated amounts of caffeine in fast bursts. This means that you FEEL LIKE SUPERMAN/WOMAN for a couple of hours, and then come crashing back to reality. Then comes the mental fog, the yawns, the crash – the need for more coffee. 

Unlike coffee, Okana gets its caffeine source from Yerba Maté, which is perhaps the world's most efficient caffeine delivery vehicle. There is less caffeine overall in Yerba Maté, compared to coffee. But the diffusion and absorption of caffeine is more drawn out. This provides you with a more sustainable and longer-lasting burst of energy and focus. 

Yerba Maté is also full of theobromine. This is a compound found in the Yerba Maté plant, and it is known to provide many of the same benefits as caffeine, but without the negative side effects. 

To further regulate your body and energy source, the adaptogens and superfoods have a soothing effect on your body, allowing you to benefit from increased energy and focus, without any of the stress caused by an oversaturation of caffeine. 

Bad Breath/Stain Teeth --> Good Breath/Pearly Whites

Coffee's burnt, acerbic flavor can leave a nasty odor in your mouth. Also consider that coffee consumption can lead to dehydration (a known cause of bad breath), and you've got a recipe for one stinky mouth. 

You could of course mask these effects by brushing your teeth at the office, sloshing some mouthwash between meetings, or popping gum throughout the day. Or, you could switch to Okana to get the same nootropic benefits of coffee, without the stinky mouth. 

In fact, Okana is full of breath-freshening ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, licorice, and lucuma. Licorice, in particular, is well known to freshen breath, as it's a common ingredient in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and gums. And even better, theobromine (see above) is known to strengthen teeth. 

It's also important to note that our main source of caffeine (Yerba Maté) is also a white tea. This is great for preventing stains, and you will notice that your coffee mug, over time, will lack the same permanent staining that is prevalent with coffee. No stained mug = no stained teeth. 

Smile big, and smile bright. No more stains, and no more bad breath. Just some damn healthy energy and focus, and a healthy mouth to go with it. All thanks to Okana. 

An overconsumption of – and a reliance on – caffeine can negatively impact your sleep. If you already suffer from insomnia, drinking coffee can make things worse. But it also impacts those of you who normally sleep ok. Sleeplessness, anxiety, frequent nighttime awakenings, and overall poorer sleep quality are problems that may arise from drinking too much caffeine. 

Okana uses a more effective delivery system for its caffeine – Yerba Maté – and also relies on theobromine for much of the energy that you get from each cup. Lower levels of caffeine and a more sustainable burst of energy means that you will require less caffeine to get through your day. 

If that weren't enough, many of Okana's other superfoods and adaptogens have a calming effect on your body. Ashwagandha in particular is known to regulate your body's stress and hormone levels, providing you with a keen sense of calm, despite the burst in energy and focus. We chose these ingredients to sooth, relax, and comfort, as well as their abilities to boost your immune system. So every sip of Okana will provide your body with the homeostasis that it needs to not only be at peak performance, but peak relaxation. (Try not to drink any form of caffeine after 4pm anyway!)

Coffee VS Okana, we walk you through the different reasons why we crafted Okana in the first place and how it works.

Five Reasons You Should Reduce Your Coffee Addiction and Switch to Okana

For millions of people around the world, coffee is the go-to – almost default – beverage for a number of occasions: waking up, energy, relaxing, first date, after dinner. And for millions more, it's undrinkable because of a number of health reasons, including those with an elevated heart rate, anxiety, arrhythmia, and even women who are pregnant. 

But many people have no idea why they shouldn't be drinking coffee. Or, at least, why they should be drinking less coffee. 

Here are 10 reasons why coffee doesn't love you as much as you love – or want to love – coffee:

It has addictive qualities – The caffeine in coffee effects your central nervous system. This makes it potentially addictive. No, it's not as dangerous as cigarettes or drugs. But it has the same impact on your body. And while you won't be convulsing and shivering in a heap on the floor when you skip a day of coffee, you may find yourself to be particularly anxious or grumpy without it. While the danger level of addiction is low, it is still present. Reducing our reliance on any substance is always a good idea. 

Crash – Caffeine gives many people a happy little high. Sometimes, it gives us a false sense of energy and efficiency. This can be effective when we're really struggling. However, because of the hard spike of energy, there's also a hard crash. It's not uncommon for people to feel lethargic and groggy after the initial high of caffeine dissipates. 

Bad breath and stained teeth – There's not much more to say about this. But yes, you smell like burnt beans after your cup of coffee, and over time, the tannins in coffee will allow color compounds to stick to your pearly whites. The old adage is true: if it can stain your clothes, it can stain your teeth. Meeting someone for a coffee is often seen as a safe and easy idea for a first date. When that date goes well and you lean in for the first kiss, locking lips will taste like the discarded coffee grounds from your americano. Sexy. And yellow teeth are never a good first impression on a first date, no matter what you're drinking. 

Ethical reasons – Coffee is a strain on local ecosystems, and the environment in general. Many farmers plant mono-crops, which have a negative effect on local wildlife diversity. On top of that, its resource intensive, and is usually shipped long distances (Europe, North America, east Asia, and Australia are major coffee consuming regions, and none of them produce coffee locally). Adding further insult to injury is that, much like other tropical products (think chocolate), there are countless examples of exploited labor and corruption in the industry, which makes finding ethically sourced product difficult. Simply reducing our consumption can have a net positive impact on the environment and the people who grow it. 

Digestion/Ulcers – No, coffee alone will not cause ulcers. In general ulcers and associated digestive track issues are caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria will, over time, cause open sores in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Coffee, however, because of its high acidity, can make the effects of ulcers worst, since the acid can penetrate these open sores and cause pain. If you have stomach problems, drinking coffee may make them feel worse. 

Anxiety – Caffeine itself will not make everyone who drinks to feel anxious. It can, however, worsen anxiety in people who already suffer from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). This can manifest in many ways, including headaches, shakiness, irritability, fast heartbeat, and an inability to concentrate. 

Sleep issues – Caffeine is a stimulant, so it's easy to see how it can impact your ability to both fall asleep and get a good night of sleep. For people who already suffer from sleep irregularities, the cause and effect can be even worse.  High consumption of – and reliance on – caffeine throughout the day can delay your body's sleep rhythm, make it difficult to fall asleep, and can deprive your body of slow-wave sleep – the kind that the body needs to truly feel rested. Ever notice how your dog sleeps a lot throughout the day? That's because dogs don't get the same kind of slow-wave sleep that humans do, and therefore need daily naps. Missing out on deep sleep will make you sleepy the following day, and in search of coffee to compensate. This is what we might call a vicious cycle. 

Increased blood pressure – This is especially true for people who already have hypertension, and for people who consume high amounts of caffeine (the equivalent of 4 cups or more per day). Either way, coffee – much like smoking, alcohol, and salt consumption – can worsen and even initiate signs of hypertension. 

Headache – If you already have a headache, coffee is known to alleviate the associated pain because caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties (headaches are caused by a swelling of vessels around the brain, and caffeine restricts those vessels). However, when coffee is consumed regularly, the body becomes dependent on the effects of caffeine. When you stop drinking coffee, its vasoconstrictive properties dissipate and cause a swelling of vessels around the brain. Therefor causing a headache. 

Cost – Whether you're drinking cheap coffee or expensive coffee, the true cost of coffee can add up. Most people drink coffee for the energy. Over time, like most drugs, our body adapts to the neurological and physiological effects of coffee, therefore requiring higher doses to feel the same benefits. In other words, we need to drink more and more to get the same alertness and energy. This, for the clueless, is how addiction works. Before you know it, you find yourself clamoring for several coffees throughout the day. While drinking a cup for breakfast at home isn't going to break the bank, people with higher dependency on coffee (especially since the coffee “high” is short lived) will find themselves buying overpriced coffee throughout the day. Before you know it, you're spending hundreds of dollars a month – on coffee, for a quick high. You might be thinking, “I don't spend that much.” Well, you might be surprised. 

Caffeine is an effective and proven nootropic to help you focus and stay energized throughout the day. The problem for many people is caffeine's most popular delivery system: coffee. We at Okana have developed the ultimate alternative to coffee. One that gives you the savory taste and comforting ritual of coffee, but one that is also full of superfoods and adaptogens (like ashwagandha, lion's mane, reishi, and ginger) for maximum health benefits. The result is a drink that provides longer-lasting, slowly-diffused energy, without all the negative effects of coffee. 

Sometimes we love something – or want desperately to love something – but it doesn't love us back. You might be thinking about your ex from a few years ago, but we're talking about coffee. 

10 Reasons Why Coffee Doesn't Love you Back

We all like the tropics. Sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, brightly-colored cocktails, out-of-office emails, and – wait a minute... I think we're talking about a different kind of tropics. 

We're talking about nootropics. What, you ask, are nootropics? They are defined as: “(of a drug) used to enhance memory or other cognitive functions.” Hmmm. Drug? How peculiar. 

That's right. The cup of coffee in front of you is classified as a drug, since the caffeine in it  stimulates the central nervous system. In fact, caffeine is the world's most consumed drug, legal or otherwise. But how did we get to this point, obsessively and almost neurotically consuming coffee for mental enhancement? Let's take a trip down memory lane. 

Imagine that you're a goat herder in Ethiopia hundreds of years ago. You know the land around you, and you know your herd of goats even better. Daily life is more or less the same. You wake up, you move your goats around, you eat, you go to sleep, you repeat.

One day, it's 2:00am and your normally sleepy goats are active. More than that, they're wild. Jumping around, prancing, bleating, playing. You wake up dazed and confused and wonder, “What the fuck are my goats doing?”

You do a little bit of investigating and find out that your goats had eaten a nearby plant that you've never seen before. This plant, it seems, is giving your goats tons of energy. 

I know what I'm thinking if that were me: “Hey goat, let me hit that shit.” 

According to legend, that's exactly what this shepherd did. He gathered a bit of this magical plant, tinkered with it for a while, and coffee was born. And of course, there are several other fun legends, including one that originates in Yemen. 

Fast forward a little bit, and the Muslim Empire comes knocking on your door. They ask, “Give us some cool shit –  like gold or slaves or women or horses. If not, we'll take it, violently.” You notice the scary soldiers with big swords and sharp spears and think, “Better give them something.” So you hand over some of this liquid elixir and guarantee that they'll love it. 

The Muslim traders and conquerors think, “This is kind of a weak-ass gift, but whatever,” and they take the coffee back to the center of their empire. They soon realize how awesome it is and introduce it far and wide. Suddenly, coffee is all the rage. 

Some say that the introduction of coffee to the Middle East had a positive impact on society and helped usher in the Muslim Golden Age. Sure, conquering and incorporating people across the known world had a big impact, giving the empire access to history, literature, innovations, and thinkers in Persia, Greece, Egypt, Rome, and more. But it's easy to see how caffeine consumption might have played a role in the great advancements made in mathematics, science, astronomy, and philosophy. Anyone who has stayed up late at college while writing a paper on the differences between 17th Century French and British philosophy can attest to the powers of caffeine. 

While daily life in western Europe was tethered to the rising and setting of the sun, great minds in the Muslim Empire could burn midnight oil, so to speak, by consuming tons of caffeine, in the form of coffee. 

Fast forward some more, and the Muslim army is at the doorstep of western Europe. I mean, literally at the gates of Vienna during one of the great sieges in history. Presumably, the Muslim army made it this far because they were hopped up on caffeine. 

Vienna was destined to collapse, providing the Muslim army an ideal launchpad to conquer the rest of Europe. But at the 11th hour, after decades of inaction and infighting, the Europeans mustered a relatively small coalition and, thanks to the famous Last Hoorah of the Winged Hussars – the largest known cavalry charge in history that later inspired J.R.R. Tolkien (thanks Poland) – the Muslim army was repelled. In fact, they were utterly defeated and sent fleeing without a moment to pack up. 

The victorious Europeans decided to rummage through the Muslim encampment and discovered a strange, dark bean-like product. Just like that, coffee was introduced to Europeans. (The Polish diplomat Jerzy Kulczycki and his trusty Serbian servant Dorde Mihalović managed to escape the besieged Vienna in the dark of the night and warned other European leaders of the city's impending collapse. Much of the looted bounty in coffee was gifted to Jerzy by King Sobieski of Poland as a gesture of gratitude. I imagine that Jerzy received the giant pile of coffee and thought, “What the fuck do I do with this?” Well, also according to legend, Jerzy later opened the first café in Vienna and was immortalized with a statue in downtown Vienna. While the legend is likely untrue, the statue does, in fact, exist.) 

Fast forward even more to...Wisconsin? Yeah, Wisconsin. It's here that the modern coffee break allegedly originated, with the wives of Norwegian immigrants. I know, WTF? Well, the town of Stoughton still celebrates this today with the annual Stoughton Coffee Break Festival. 

The idea came from the fact that overburdened workers in the Industrial Revolution needed a short break in the day to gather themselves mentally and physically. Coffee producers capitalized on this need and proposed the idea of a coffee break, even coming up with the slogan “Give yourself a Coffee-Break – and get what coffee gives to you.” The coffee break was subsequently written into union contracts across the nation, becoming one of the major examples of nootropics being used to improve efficiency in the workforce. 

And this brings us to the crux of our story. The reason that companies acquiesced to these demands is simple: they noticed that their employees worked better, harder, and longer with the support of this caffeinated beverage. 

Caffeine (and in particular coffee) has since become the world's most popular drug – and beverage – of choice, including for Americans. It's an ideal stimulant/nootropic to help everyone from factory workers to police officers to teachers to graphic designers get through their day at maximum performance.  

So why the hell – you might be wondering – would we want to replace coffee with a coffee alternative? 

The truth is that, while there isn't very much inherently wrong or unhealthy with caffeine if consumed in moderation, there is something very wrong with caffeine's most popular delivery vehicle: coffee. 

We propose that there is a way to benefit from all the positive aspects of caffeine as a nootropic (the focus, the alertness, the energy) without risking any of the negatives (jitters, anxiety, sleep deprivation, heart palpitations, ulcers, bad breath). 

There are other products that have caffeine in them. Namely, chocolate and tea. But the amount of caffeine in each is too minimal to have a noticeable or lasting effect on our bodies and minds. There are also caffeine pills, but they deny us the satisfying warmth and savory flavor of a hot beverage, which is often what we look forward to as much as the caffeine itself. 

Yerba Maté has been consumed by people in South America for centuries. From indigenous people, to rugged gauchos, to corporate fat-cats, to turn-of-the-century debutantes, to Lebanese immigrants. 

Yerba Maté contains less caffeine than coffee. But Yerba Maté has high concentrations of Theobromine. 

What, pray tell, is Theobromine? Glad you asked!

Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid found in many varieties of plants, including Yerba Maté. Much like caffeine, it provides energy and comes with a host of other potential benefits (including: improved cognitive function, healthy heart, reduced inflammation, stronger teeth, and more). 

But there's a very essential difference between theobromine and caffeine. 

Theobromine is not a central nervous system stimulant, and therefore doesn't make you feel jittery or on edge, and is also non-addictive. You can consume as much as you'd like without risking caffeine withdrawals down the road!

Also of great interest to us, the combination of theobromine and reduced caffeine in Yerba Maté means that it provides slowly-diffused and longer-lasting energy. Instead of the fast spike and hard crash caused by coffee, a healthy dose of Yerba Maté will ensure that you not only get your improved energy and focus, but it will last longer throughout the day and will dissipate more slowly. 

Caffeine is a truly wonderful nootropic. Something that can help you perform at your best mentally and physically throughout your chaotic work day, during extensive travel, before your finals, or at the gym. Our goal at Okana is to make sure that you get a jolt of energy and focus, but in the healthiest way possible. 

We invite you to quit coffee for a week and replace it with Okana. The controlled levels of caffeine – coupled with our powerful superfoods and adaptogens like Lion's Maine, Reishi, Ginger, and Ashwagandha – will undoubtedly improve your life. 

Quitting caffeine is tough. But quitting coffee – or at least  supplementing coffee – and replacing it with Okana is quite easy, and will likely do a lot of favors for your overall well-being. 

So take the Okana challenge for a week and see how you feel. We reckon that you'll be back for more. And we'll be happy to see you. 

What are nootropics? The History of caffeine and an introduction to Coffee Alternative!

Nootropics: The Discovery of Caffeine, Its Proliferation in Society, Better Alternatives, and the World's Longest Title

No, not those kinds of mushrooms. I'm talking about edible mushrooms. Wait, hold on. Let me rephrase that. 

What I mean to say is that we're talking about mushrooms in the culinary world. You know the type. These are the mushrooms that don't require candles, music, and bright colors to fully enjoy. The mushrooms that you put into risotto, on pizza, over a steak, and…in your coffee alternative? Ok, let's start at the beginning. 

Humans have been eating mushrooms for a long, long time. (Let's have a moment of silence for the brave souls who took the time to try all the mushrooms to find out which ones were delicious, which ones were disgusting, and which ones were deadly.)

Mushrooms are strange, spongey little things. And for many, they're a tasty topping or star in a number of dishes. I know that you didn't come here for fun fungus tips, but I'm going to give you two fun fungus tips. 

King trumpet mushrooms make an excellent vegetarian or vegan substitute for seared scallops. So the next time you have a cooking date with the vegetarian guy or girl you met at yoga class, you don't have to panic and serve a bowl of raw broccoli.  

There are many great holy trinities. But the holiest trinity is mushroom, shallot, and butter. There are many variations to this combination (switch up the mushrooms), and ways to improve it (garlic and thyme). But simplicity is best.

No matter how you decide to eat your mushrooms, the exciting thing is that mushrooms are good for you. In fact, they're really good for you. Mushrooms contain B vitamins, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, copper, magnesium, and more. 

But what separates mushrooms is their high concentration of polysaccharides, indoles, polyphenols, and carotenoids, which have all shown in studies to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits. 

While you should always be wary of grand claims, and should always remember that eating mushroom risotto won't make you live until you're 150-years-old, there is a lot of promising research being done to find out how potent mushrooms really are. 

There is, unfortunately, one major drawback to mushrooms: not everyone likes them. Hard to believe for those of us who love them, but there are plenty of people who think that mushrooms taste like dirt or feet, or dislike the idea of eating a fungus, or simply hate the texture. 

Well, we've got some good news for you. Okana is plumb full of mushroom powders (using some of the healthiest mushrooms, like reishi and lion's mane) and you would never know from drinking a cup. Okana doesn't taste or smell like mushrooms. Seriously! 

It's like mom packing her tomato sauce full of vegetables to trick her kids into eating healthier. Or like dad sneaking medication into a sausage to trick the dog into taking its vitamins. In a weird way, Okana tricks you into incorporating powerful, healthy mushrooms into your daily diet. (Shh, don't let the secret out.)

So raise a mug of Okana to your health. And raise a mug to the magical world of mushrooms. These funny little fungi might prove to help us in a number of ways, from breaking down hazardous waste to providing alternative energy. In the meantime, help yourself and drink your daily serving of mushroom with Okana – the ultimate coffee alternative. 

We're talking about mushrooms that don't require candles, music, and bright colors to fully enjoy! You know, the culinary ones.

Hi. It’s nice to see you. And thanks for visiting. 

You’re obviously here because you’re a curious person. Specifically because you heard about adaptogens and thought, “What the fuck is an adaptogen?”

That’s a great question. It’s a funny word, isn’t it? Sounds like a cyborg from a James Cameron film. Or maybe something that Tom Brady and Christiano Ronaldo use to stay young… forever. And play sports like cyborgs. 

It definitely doesn’t sound like something that’s sold on the streets of Philadelphia or at a baseball game. “Adaptogens! Get your adaptogens! We’ve got adaptogens here!” 

Fortunately, we can satiate your curiosity a little. 

Adaptogens are a hearty and remarkable class of plants. Simply put, they’re plants of several varieties and origins that do awesome stuff for your mind and body and have a range of potential benefits. More specifically, adaptogens are “non-toxic substances and most often plant extracts that are held to increase the body’s ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning” (thanks Marriam-Webster). 

You see, adaptogens often grow in locations with extreme climates: high altitude, frigid cold, blistering heat, intense humidity, drought, lack of sun, too much sun. You get the picture. 

These plants have, over thousands of years of evolution, learned to survive in these extreme climates. And in some cases, thrive. When you consider the old adage, “You are what you eat,” it’s easy to see why consuming these plants is great for your health. Eat adaptogens and you become…a badass…plant? Something like that. 

Adaptogens –  before they received their sexy, product-friendly name –  were revered as medicine and health tonics in places like ancient China, India, and Japan (and they still are to this day!). They were so revered, in fact, that they were reserved for members of royalty, and even emperors. It only took a few thousand years for these medicinal morsels to be readily available for us peasants and plebs. But how the heck did that happen?

The modern concept of adaptogens was first studied by the toxicologist N.V. Lazarev in the U.S.S.R., who coined the term in the 1940s. Further research was later carried on by Zakir Ramazonov, a Russian researcher who studied the benefits and efficacy of adaptogens, and brought his research to the United States following the collapse of the Iron Curtain. Adaptogens were then researched in American laboratories (defense departments were particularly intrigued), and are now, after their long and arduous journey, available to you in the comfort of your own home. 

None of this should come as a surprise. Russians have long been obsessed with training, health, and maximizing physical and mental productivity, well before your annoying coworker jumped into the CrossFit world. In fact, a lot of the trendy training techniques in modern gyms from Los Angeles to New York City to Paris were developed or researched in Russia – kettlebells, high intensity interval training, heat exposure, cold plunges, and other fun (and horrible) things. 

For the Russians, this extensive research went beyond living an extra couple of years or looking sexy as fuck naked. They researched adaptogens – notably before the advent and proliferation of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs – to help their Olympians, astronauts, soldiers, and, presumably, cosmo-dogs perform their best. 

Imagine the potential benefits for hard-training weight lifters at the Olympics, snow-trekking soldiers in Siberia, and space-exploring astronauts in the outer reaches of Earth’s atmosphere. 

Ivan Drago from Rocky IV didn’t become Ivan Drago by eating broccoli and obsessing over biceps curls. No, Ivan Drago was made in a Russian laboratory of pain and suffering – and, yes, fitness and nutrition. Anyone familiar with Russia’s climate, topography, and history might conclude that Russians themselves are, in fact, adaptogens. 

The good news is that you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, elite soldier, or trained astronaut to reap the benefits of adaptogens. In fact, they’re brilliant additions to the lifestyle of weekend warriors, entrepreneurs, single dads, those with a nasty cold, busy-bodies, or really anyone looking for extra energy, focus, and well-being. Which, can be assumed, is all of us. 

There is a broad list of designated plants that fall underneath the umbrella name “adaptogen.” Much like numerous varieties of mushrooms fall under the umbrella name “fungus.” 

Several of the most prized and well-known adaptogens are ashwagandha, ginseng, licorice root, reishi,  and lion’s mane. You might notice that these are prominent ingredients in every cup of Okana Coffee Alternative. This wasn’t by accident. We did heaps of research to find the most beneficial and powerful adaptogens to help your body deal with stress, improve your health, and calm your adrenal glands.

Each of these ingredients are shown to help the body and mind in several ways, including:

Ashwagandha may reduce stress, boost energy, and promote cognitive functions. 

Ginseng is renowned for its immune-boosting properties. 

Licorice Root aids digestion, helps prevent cavities, and is full of antioxidants. 

Reishi aids the immune system, fights fatigue, and improves sleep quality. 

Lion’s Mane combats inflammation and may suppress anxiety and depression.

No, adaptogens are not going to cure cancer or turn you into Thor or give you x-ray vision. While more research is necessary to back up some of the extravagant claims made by some (let’s calm down, people), adaptogens can undoubtedly play a vital role in rounding out your health and improving your quality of life. 

It’s a good thing that adaptogens are resilient little plants. If not, they might not have survived such a wild journey from obscure ancient medicine, to Soviet laboratories, to your kitchen. So consider yourself an ancient emperor and raise a cup to your health. 

“Adaptogens”... a trendy new name synonymous with health, well-being and modernity.

In order to get a good idea of ​​what it is, let's start by understanding what it is not.

Adaptogens are not medicine because they have no curative purpose.

Adaptogens are plants or fungi (most of the time) that thrive in extreme climates, which gives them an extraordinary adaptability. This is the point of these foods. They transmit this adaptability and their benefits to the human body.

If the ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia already called them "superior tonics", the technical definition of Adaptogens arrives in the 1960s from the USSR. The Soviets had been working for twenty years on food to boost human performance and adaptogens caught their attention. They have three basic properties:

Strengthen the body's defenses against external aggressions,

Normalize and stabilize physiological states and therefore achieve homeostasis

Preserve the functioning of organisms while ensuring the absence of toxicity

In short, the miracle of adaptogens is to bring appeasement when you feel stressed, energy when you experience fatigue and cognitive enhancement when your mind is troubled.

They are real little treasures of nature.

Their democratization is more and more widespread in a society which is more and more subject to emotional lifts, peaks of stress and fatigue at a sometimes overwhelming pace.

What are adaptogens and what to expect from them?

Like in our article on adaptogens, we are keen to point out that what we call Superfoods are not medical resources and should not be used for curative purposes.

That being said, once again, we are convinced that these Super Ingredients are gems of our beautiful planet, that a preventive use and an approach of “soft medicine” provide unique benefits to our bodies (even if they are not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet).

The official definition of Superfood is “a food rich in nutrients, considered to be particularly beneficial in terms of health and well-being”.

Superfoods are fruits, seaweed, roots, plants, herbs, fungi and are naturally and particularly rich in essential nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants.

The interest for us is that their benefits are not limited to the body and the proper functioning of the organism, but also to well-being and cognitive functions - which makes them a fabulous asset for making an alternative to coffee!

Zoom on the phenomenon of Superfoods and how we used them to design the ultimate alternative to coffee

Okana

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