Coffee, tea and alcohol – can I have them?

Latte, cappuccino, long black, chardonnay, Shiraz or even a vodka martini – we all have our favorites, and with Centr, you don’t have to give them up. We believe in moderation, smart switches and drinking responsibly. Here’s how to enjoy tea, coffee and alcohol when you're leading a healthy lifestyle.

Thanks a latte

When the morning alarm goes off, most of us couldn’t function without our morning coffee. That first caffeine hit jumpstarts our day and is often the reason to get us out of the door. We all need an incentive, right?

But is coffee actually good for us? You’re in luck. Coffee beans are packed with nutrients including vitamin B2, B5, potassium and magnesium. But the real hero is its content of antioxidants. These magical substances help fight chemicals knowns as free radicals, and may reduce the risk of different health problems.

How many cups?
Now, before you go and order your venti caramel mocha, let’s get real about the type of coffee you should be drinking. Flavored coffees with sugar syrups, whipped cream and toppings are not part of a healthy lifestyle plan – at least not daily! If you want to get results, we suggest you either have 1 latte with whole milk (or plant-based), or two to three cups of black coffee (8-ounce or 240-ml per serve) a day – with no added sugar. The key is to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water between cups. And trust us, when you drink good quality coffee you’ll never want to go back to its sugary cousins.

Put the kettle on

There’s something seriously calming about tea. Perhaps it’s the ritual, the aromas, or just the act of sitting down with a cuppa.

Tea is much more than just a liquid. It’s packed with antioxidants (which we love) and has less caffeine than coffee. Although caffeine found in tea and coffee isn’t bad for you, too much can make you restless and keep you up at night. However, did you know tea can boost your brain and mental state? Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid which promotes relaxation by increasing alpha brain wave activity.

But the real hero here is green tea. Made from camellia sinensis, green tea has the power to increase fat burning, boosts the metabolic rate, prevent cell damage (thanks to those antioxidants) and improve brain function. It’s the quadruple threat of the tea world.

How many cups?
When it comes to tea, we recommend one or two black teas with whole milk (or plant-based milk) or two to three black teas – but try not to add any sugar. Also, be mindful of your milk intake if you’re adding it to every cup.

We absolutely love herbal teas. There are so many varieties and exquisite combinations you’ll never ever get bored. Green tea sometimes contains more caffeine than black tea, so you may not want it before bed.

Wine not

Drinking is a big part of society. From weddings and birthdays to Friday night drinks, alcohol plays an integral role when it comes to celebrating or wrapping up work for the week. However, drinking alcohol can not only wreak havoc on your health – you could also pile on the pounds because of its calorie content and the extra food you may eat while drinking. In fact, consuming too much alcohol on a regular basis can affect your blood pressure and cause liver disease, and increase your risk of certain cancers.

Now, Centr doesn’t have a zero tolerance to alcohol – you’re only human and we’re not the fun police. But we do recommend cutting back your intake and limiting yourself to a maximum of two standard drinks a week while you’re following the program. Here’s what one standard drink looks like:

• 3.38 oz (100ml) wine

• 1 oz (30ml) spirits

• 12 oz (375ml) of beer

If you enjoy a weekly wine down, but want to be mindful of your sugar intake, we suggest switching your usual order for a vodka shot with seltzer. Vodka and club soda or sparkling mineral water are both sugar-free, and more hydrating than tonic or soft drink mixers.

Leading a healthy lifestyle is about balance and moderation. Once you start fueling your body with fresh produce, lean protein and whole carbs, you’ll feel so good and energized you won’t crave caffeinated or alcoholic beverages so often anyway.