Basics of Herbalife Diet
Coffee consumption can be an important part of one’s diet, and it can be tough to know if it is compatible with a particular diet. With the Herbalife diet, can you consume coffee while following it – and if so, what are the restrictions?
The Herbalife diet is a meal replacement program, designed to help people lose weight and maintain healthier eating habits in the long term. With a Herbalife diet, the main concept is to reduce carbohydrate and calorie consumption and substitute meals with the program’s meal replacement shakes, bars or snacks.
The key here is to provide the body with all the necessary micronutrients, without consuming too many calories. Specifically, the meal replacement program recommends two meal replacement shakes a day, along with healthy snacks and a balanced meal. Eating healthy snacks is important during any diet, however, but can you also drink coffee, or is that not recommended?
Does Herbalife Diet Allow Coffee?
For many, coffee is an essential part of their daily routine – it can provide you with essential energy and can help reduce exhaustion during the day. It can also help to improve concentration and focus, making it a good alternative for those who want to forgo sugary snacks or beverages.
Naturally, the question arises if coffee is allowed within the Herbalife diet. The answer is – yes, coffee is allowed, however, there are a few important guidelines to follow.
In terms of the program itself, the Herbalife meal replacement system recommends no more than two cups of coffee per day. It seems that this rule is put in place to avoid excessive caffeine consumption which, in turn, can lead to various physical and mental health problems, such as nervousness, increased heart rate, insomnia and stomach issues.
Does Adding Cream and Sugar Change Anything?
For many people, a cup of coffee simply isn’t complete unless there’s cream and sugar added in. Especially if they’re used to drinking their caffeine with completely different tastes, avoiding such flavors will take some getting used to.
In regards to the Herbalife diet, yes, you can add cream and sugar to your coffee, but it’s important to be aware of the calorie and sugar content in both cream and sugar. Not only that, but having this sugary beverage every day can lead to your body getting lazy – meaning it won’t need to look for any additional energy sources, such as stored fat.
The best thing to do is to look for low-fat milk alternatives or, better yet, unsweetened milk and cream. Not only that, but it would be a better idea to opt for natural sugars, such as honey or agave syrup, in order to cut down on the refined sugar content.
What Are Healthier Alternatives?
Herbalife diet recommends consuming as much water as possible, as this can help to keep you full as well as hydrated.
However, if you’re looking for something more flavorful, then naturally brewed coffee is always an option. Considering that coffee beans come straight from nature, brewed coffee doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners or added sugar.
If you’re looking for a substitute that is even healthier, then green tea is an excellent option. Not only is green tea incredibly high in antioxidants and vitamins, but it has numerous other healing and health benefits, such as boosting the metabolism and aiding in weight loss.
The Bottom Line
The Herbalife diet recommends two cups of coffee per day. It is important to note, however, that such restriction only applies to the actual coffee – adding cream and sugar is allowed, but with moderation.
It is also important to recognize that the Herbalife diet is well-rounded plan, meaning that it doesn’t focus solely on coffee consumption. The notion is to introduce various healthy eating habits and workout routines, while making sure that calorie and carbohydrate consumption are in check.
Are There Any Risks Involved?
No diet is perfect, and neither is coffee consumption. On the one hand, coffee can provide you with energy and focus, both of which are essentials during workouts. On the other hand, it can lead to coffee addiction, an issue which tends to get in the way of various activities and routines.
It is important to note, however, that coffee addiction primarily stems from overconsumption. It is thus important to stick to the Herbalife diet recomendations and limit coffee to two cups per day or less.
Advice from Dietitians
Most experts will tell you that any healthy diet should include coffee in some way or another, but that it is all about moderation.
Dietitians will agree that there’s nothing wrong with having two cups of coffee per day, as long as the coffee itself is not loaded with sugar and creamer. Even though the additional toppings will not throw your diet off balance, it is still better to avoid such unhealthy ingredients as much as possible.
The key rule to follow here is that very few people can consume coffee in excess and remain healthy – especially if they are trying to lose weight. Simply put, it doesn’t matter if you’re drinking coffee on the Herbalife diet or any other diet, it is essential to practice moderation.
Practical Tips and Suggestions
In order to make sure that your coffee consumption is beneficial and not detrimental to your overall diet, it is important to establish a few beneficial practices.
It would be beneficial to pick and choose the type of coffee you’re drinking. Darker roasts tend to contain more caffeine and be more bitter, and thus it is important to pick milder roasts instead. It is also better to skip on any sweeteners, creamers, or added fats, as these will only increase the amount of calories.
It can also be beneficial to switch to decaf coffee after some time. Generally speaking, decaf coffee contains much lower amounts of caffeine, and thus it will be easier to consume it in larger quantities.
Examples of Healthy Breakfast Options
When drinking coffee while on the Herbalife diet, it is important to pair it with the correct food. Nutrient and calorie-rich foods will ensure that the body gets everything it needs to remain healthy and strong.
For example, an ideal breakfast option would be a smoothie or a meal replacement shake with fresh fruits, along with some whole-grain toast and boiled eggs. Such breakfast will not only provide the body with essential proteins and carbohydrates, but it will also help to keep you full for longer.
Alternatively, you can opt for a healthy omelette made of eggs and vegetables, or even an all-fruit salad with a bit of protein powder. Popular breakfast smoothie options include almond and vegetable smoothies, as well as smoothies made of oats and banana, nut butters and almond milk.
Supplements and Multivitamins
Aside from incorporating healthy food choices into your diet, it is also essential to keep in mind the importance of taking multivitamins and other supplements.
The Herbalife program recommends taking a multivitamin in order to provide the body with all essential nutrients, even though the program provides meal replacement drinks and snacks that are already enriched with essential vitamins and minerals.
Overall, it is important to understand that a healthy diet consists of finding the right balance. While coffee can be beneficial and can provide your body with essential energy, it is important to practice moderation and find the best type of coffee for your particular diet.
