Beverage panel analysis and recommendations

The Beverage Guidance Panel provides, in a published review by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a detailed summary of the health benefits and costs of each beverage.

The panel comprises: Barry M. Popkin, Lawrence Armstrong, George M. Bray, Benjamin Caballero, Balz Frei, and Walter C. Willett.

Based on this review and our knowledge of health and nutrition, the Panel recommends the following range of intake for beverages: (the health review for each level and beverage category are obtained by clicking on the beverages noted below)

• Level 6: Calorie rich beverages without nutrients, such as carbonated soft drinks (up to one serving*, less if trying to lose weight)
• Level 5: 100% fruit and vegetable juices, whole milk, sports drinks (up to one serving)
• Level 4: Diet beverages with sugar substitutes (up to four servings)
• Level 3: Nonfat or lowfat milk and fortified soy beverages (up to two servings)
• Level 2: Unsweetened coffee and tea -- iced and hot (up to eight servings a day of tea, up to four servings of coffee)
• Level 1: Water (at least four servings of water for women, at least six servings for men)

*Serving sizes are all eight-ounces

We have a suggested allocation for a person who requires 2200 calories of total energy intake and 98 ounces of beverage consumption. The suggested pattern, and an approved, but less favorable pattern, are noted in figure 2.

:

Figure 2. Suggested Beverage Consumption Patterns
(10% of energy from beverages) for a Person with
a 2200 kcal Energy Requirement per Day

NOTE: Figure adapted with permission by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. © Am J Clin Nutr. American Society for Nutrition.

Footnote: The values of 50, 28, 16, and 4 fluid ounces are shown for illustrative purposes only and that the total should sum to 98 fluid ounces, as shown at the top of the figure.

1. The suggested range for each beverage from panel
2. Range: Range: caffeine is a limiting factor up to 400 mg/day or about 32 fl. oz./day of coffee or about 64 fl. oz./day for tea ( either can replace water)
3. Can substitute for tea and coffee with the same limitations regarding caffeine
4. 100% fruit juices 0-8 fl. oz./day, alcoholic beverages 0-1 drink per day for women, and 0-2 drinks per day for men, whole milk 0 fl. oz./day
   

All of the figures are available as downloadable files in ppt formats here.
Beverage pattern by age in the US 1999-2001