Beverages & Health

Today, there is much confusion about the impact of some beverages and ingredients on health.  However, most nutrition experts like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics agree that it's the total diet and overall pattern of food eaten, rather than any one food or meal, that is important. All foods and beverages can fit into a sensible, balanced diet that is nutritionally adequate, calorically appropriate, and that is combined with regular physical activity.

Some beverages also contain vitamins, minerals, and/or other bioactive compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols that have potential health benefits. Some beverages are also fortified with additional nutrients like vitamin D and DHA and beneficial ingredients like phytosterols. And, with the exception of some vegetable juices and sports drinks, most beverages are also very low in sodium. In fact, most of the sodium in sparkling beverages comes from the water used to make them.

Beverages that contain sugars and other carbohydrates, proteins and/or fats also provide calories that, like the calories found in foods, contribute to an individual's total daily energy intake. As a result, it's important that beverage calories, like food calories, are managed as part of an individual's overall energy balance strategy to maintain a healthy weight.