Beverage panel recommendations and analysis
The Beverage Guidance Panel provides, in a review published 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. Click on the beverage categories below to read a health review for each.
- 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 low-fat 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 size is 8 fluid ounces.
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; the total should sum to 98 fluid ounces.
- The suggested range for each beverage from panel
- 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)
- Can substitute for tea and coffee with the same limitations regarding caffeine
- 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
