This Good-for-You Energy Powder Replaced My Coffee Habit

Several years ago, I gave up coffee. The jittery feeling only amplified my stress, and eventually, it felt better to cut it out entirely. I survived. I also tried matcha, regular green tea and plenty of other substitutes, but most still left me feeling overstimulated. Then I was introduced to Juice Plus+ Luminate (I’m also a superfan of the brand’s Superfood Powder), and I loved the effect. Here’s my honest review.

The Benefits of Juice Plus+ Luminate

Juice Plus+ tells me that “unlike many traditional coffee drinks made from beans roasted at extremely high heat, which can impact phytonutrient content, Luminate is designed with natural caffeine [80mg] from coffee berry using a gentler process.” For comparison, a standard 8-ounce cup of coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, but the effect you feel with Luminate is different.

The reason for this is that Juice Plus+ combines the caffeine with a powerful blend of nootropics (ingredients that support cognitive function) and adaptogens (ingredients that help you adapt to stress), including alpinia galanga, lion’s mane, cordyceps, sage, ashwagandha, rhodiola and more. Together, they help increase alertness, enhance mental clarity and support focus in a balanced way that avoids that common rush or spike with coffee, and of course, the jittery feeling. Nootropics and adaptogens have been buzzy in the wellness space for several years now, but I don’t think everyone understands how beneficial they can be.

How to Use It

The plant-based powder is vegan, gluten-free and packaged in individual serving sticks for easy on-the-go use, which I appreciate. You simply mix one packet with at least 8 ounces of hot or cold water (I prefer cold) and stir well. I like the fruity berry-mango flavor, though it does lean slightly sweet, so I usually add extra water and drink it in a 20-ounce bottle to dilute it a bit. It can take up to an hour to fully kick in, so I’d recommend factoring that into your morning routine.