Context.Although not predicted by standard stellar evolution, it is known that the surface abundance of light elements, such as lithium, carbon, and nitrogen, changes during the red giant branch (RGB) as a result of extra-mixing. This is associated usually with thermohaline mixing acting after the RGB bump. Peculiar lithium-enriched RGB stars might also be related to either enhanced extra-mixing or pollution from external sources. Aims. We analyze the lithium (Li) abundance and carbon isotopic ratio C 12 /C 13 in a sample of 166 field red giants with −0.3 ≤[Fe/H]≤ 0.2, targeted by the EXPRESS radial velocity program to analyze the effects of extra-mixing. Methods. We measure the abundances with spectral synthesis using high-resolution and signal-to-noise spectra. Multiple-epoch observations needed for exoplanet detection are used to decrease the effects of telluric contamination in C 12 /C 13 measurements.Results. The Li abundance pattern is complicated to interpret, but the comparison between RGB and core-He burning giants shows the effects of extra-mixing consistent with thermohaline. The most Li-enriched giant in the sample was classified as a RGB star close to the luminosity function bump with low C 12 /C 13 . Given that the C 12 /C 13 should not be affected by external mechanisms, contamination by an external source, such as a planet, does not seem to be the source of the high Li. The carbon isotopic ratio presents new clues to describe the extra-mixing. There is a decreasing correlation between mass and C 12 /C 13 in the RGB and an increasing correlation in the horizontal branch, which, once again, is consistent with thermohaline mixing. Our data also shows a correlation between C 12 /C 13 and [Fe/H]. There is no evident impact of binarity either on Li or C 12 /C 13 . Conclusions. Our sample shows behavior that is consistent with additional mixing acting after the RGB bump. Lithium, which is heavily affected by rotational mixing and other processes, does not show a clear trend. Instead, the carbon isotope ratio could be the best tool to study mixing in red giants. Additional measurements of C 12 /C 13 in field stars would greatly improve our ability to compare with models and understand the mixing mechanisms.