When seeking a pick-me-up, many people turn to coffee. Does actress and singer Zendaya also think coffee is the best buzzing beverage? As it turns out, her dear friends know the answer—Zendaya doesn’t drink coffee, whether it be caffeinated or decaf.
It’s not just coffee that Zendaya shuns. She cuts out most refined sugar from her diet, citing that such consumption “messes with your mind”. In terms of sustenance, Zendaya prefers dishes with whole grains and lots of leafy greens. Zendaya’s dietician Rachel Beller affirms that Zendaya consumes substantial whole foods such as quinoa, lentils, and sweet potatoes, as well as six to nine cups of vegetables a day. When it comes to snacking, her go-to is a bowl of rice Chex with blueberries.
The preference for a healthy diet is mirrored in Zendaya’s beverage choices. “My main drink — and universal solution to feeling dehydrated — is water,” Zendaya shares. When she does feel the need for a bit of flavor, Zendaya opts for water mixed with cucumber, blackberries and mint. Other occasions when Zendaya desires stimulation, such as when she’s on the set for a long day, she prefers fair-trade mango green tea. This can be a healthy alternative to coffee, as green tea is packed with antioxidants, provides an energy lift, and can help with sleep.
Unlike many in her age demographic, Zendaya is aware of how foods impact your wellbeing. She comments, “We’re taught to care about our hair, our skin, our clothes — but not necessarily our bodies. What we put into it affects how we feel.” The entertainer has a strong grasp on how nutrition affects the body and she passes this knowledge onto her following. Her Instagram remains an informative health-conscious platform; Zendaya helps followers explore the topic of diet through videos and interviews with nutritionists.
The actress encourages her peers to eat whole, real foods and listen to their bodies. Although Zendaya’s diet may appear restricting, Rachel Beller believes that it provides the celebutante with “real sustenance.” She adds, “when you control your diet, you’re controlling your energy levels, your metabolism, and so much more.”
Can Kids Play a Factor?
As is known, Zendaya is part of the D23 family (Disney’s fanbase for the age 23 and under group). The coffee- drinking culture tends to be more prominent in the millennial and adult generations; one might think that Zendaya’s decision to forego coffee is a result of her being a part of a younger demographic. Surprisingly, this is not the case.
Students as young as 12 expressed a willingness to drink coffee. According to a study featured in the journal Adolescent Health, “high school students indicate their primary motivation for drinking coffee is to increase energy and alertness.” While this may be accurate, the study showed that most high school students did not actually gain a substantial amount of energy, concluding that the effects of caffeine were minimal in the group.
As for Zendaya, it seems that the 2012 ambassador for ‘Do Something’ is determined to push for a healthier lifestyle for the younger generation. “I don’t want my fans getting into bad habits early on in life, which could force them to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives,” the star states.
Gaining a Caffeine alternative
Alternative drinks to coffee have been gaining popularity in recent years, with the surge of various coffee shops. Non- espresso alternatives include matcha tea, hot chocolate and chai. These drinks still provide a caffeine kick without the coffee flavor. Though, as Zendaya clearly demonstrates, having a caffeine-free alternative can be as energizing if not more.
The non-coffee beverage market is lucrative, even when paralleled to the gourmet coffee trend. When looking for drinks to boost up energy without the help of caffeine, there are many options. Simpler than most expect, the entertainer’s own mango green tea recipe includes two tea bags, two tablespoons of honey, ice, and hot water. Additionally, she recommends adding lemon, mint leaves, and cucumber.
It turns out that Zendaya’s beverage choice of lemon water, with and without the cucumber, is preferred in ayurvedic medicine for its high mineral content and for being caffeine-free. Studies have linked the drink to stress and anxiety relief, due to its alkalinity.
What Zendaya Drinks on the Go
Zendaya is rarely spotted sipping on energizing drinks like coffee and energy drinks. The only sip of any caffeinated beverage that can be found on her Instagram is a cold brew. Otherwise, she seems to sip on flavored waters, mostly La Croix. When asked how she powers up pre-performance, Zendaya revealed, “of course I’m drinking La Croix, you think I’m a monster?” Her light-hearted comment speaks volumes to her lifestyle of staying away from caffeine.
Moreover, Zendaya sees luxury in treating herself, by quickly grabbing a not-so-healthy snack, but with a healthy twist. The meal would usually include fries, Kettle chips and homemade guacamole. Other snacks in her bag may include trail mix and simple spiced nuts. By no means doesn’t Zendaya sacrifice her healthy lifestyle when she’s on-the-go.
Weight Changes and Body Positivity
A relatively new popular topic, Zendaya recently revealed that when she was younger, she frequently felt the societal pressure to be too skinny—“It was killin’ me,” she admits. As is known, a poor relationship with food is more than likely caused by pressure and a lack of body acceptance. This pressure could have forced Zendaya to stop drinking coffee, as it can provoke the release of cortisol, a primary stress hormone.
Today, Zendaya is able to love her natural body and fuel it with nutritious food and beverage options. Although she hasn’t consumed caffeine for years, it has been seen that she has had slight changes in her weight. However, don’t expect any extreme changes from the star anytime soon. According to Zendaya, “You learn over time to appreciate that it’s [your body] something that you invest in every single day.”
Personality and Consistent Diet
It is true that almost all people, including Zendaya, change their diets according to their own needs, works and lifestyle. Nevertheless, Zendaya has created the persona of a health-focused individual, that gives her the power to make confident and conscious decisions when it comes to nutrition. Rather than sticking to fads, Zendaya has crafted a stable diet that revolves around whole, natural and unrefined foods.
Though she often strays away from coffee and other caffeinated drinks, Zendaya is a fun-loving young adult that’s not afraid to make spontaneous choices. Although it’s been documented through social media that she doesn’t consume coffee, that doesn’t mean that it’s excluded from her overall diet.
Although many people who know Zendaya realize that she’s not a coffee fan, her lifestyle is not as restrictive or uneventful as it may appear. Despite her passion for healthier foods and beverages, her main focus is to make conscious choices and lead a balanced, active lifestyle.
How Nutrition Plays a Role in Performance
Whether it be singing, acting or modeling, Zendaya has plenty of different performance-based gigs. When it comes to stage performance, it’s critical to put the right substances in your body to last the entire show. Zendaya shared her exact pre-performance routine.
The star put an emphasis on hydration, “I love starting my morning off with lemon water because it’s really good for digestion and skin. I haven’t really been a coffee person since I can remember, so I start my morning off with lemon water and a little bit of juice with my breakfast.” She usually eats plantain or sweet potato hash before the performance, with mango slices and a side of egg whites.
After Zendaya stretches before the show, it’s time for her to fuel up with a banana with almond butter. This is usually enough to get her through her performance. If she’s working with intense choreography, she’ll drink Pedialyte before and after the session as opposed to coffee or energy drinks.
Are There Benefits to Not Drinking Coffee?
Although coffee may provide some health benefits, there are also advantages to not drinking coffee, particularly when it comes to Zendaya. Due to the sensitive balance of hormones that coffee can mess with, the lack of coffee in her lifestyle has enabled her to be more in tune with her body. This awareness is likely the primary reason that Zendaya has created such a successful career and powerful mindset.
In addition, the absence of coffee has kept her skin looking clear and youthful. The ultimate results are achieved due to the nourishing power of whole foods and the hydration that Zendaya’s always stressed about. Moreover, Zendaya’s consistent body-conscious decisions enabled her to be a prominent example of body positivity and natural beauty.
How Cutting out Coffee Changed Zendaya
Since the start of her career, Zendaya has clearly not added a ton of caffeine in her life. Her decision to forego coffee has benefitted her mentally and physically. The lack of the stimulant in her lifestyle has kept her focused, unstressed, and energized. On top of that, Zendaya’s diet focuses on whole foods, which has enabled her to maintain healthy weight levels through the years.
Zendaya will occasionally have coffee, but tends to pair it with coconut milk. This decision typically comes down to her being keenly aware that coffee affects her mood and energy differently. She notices that she often needs to sleep after consuming coffee and avoids the drink when in need of an energy boost.
It’s evident that the lack of caffeine in Zendaya’s life has allowed her to keep her diet balanced and energized. By consuming fewer or no stimulants, Zendaya was able to take in more nutrition that her body and mind needed to perform physically and mentally. Simply put, Zendaya’s diet makes her proud and gives her control over how she looks and how she feels.
