Beverages

We all need to drink in order to stay alive but as much as we are aware of what we should be eating for good health, we should also consider the nutritional value of our beverage intake and its effect on our diet and general well-being. All beverages hydrate but some also provide important nutrients the body needs. Some beverages help keep the bones and teeth strong and the heart healthy. Some beverages relax or energize us. Others simply satisfy our sweet cravings. Different types of beverages can be incorporated into a diet while balancing hydration, nutrition and lifestyle needs.

Beverages are basically categorized as water, milk and dairy-based beverages, soy-based beverages, 100% juice, juice drinks, coffee, tea, soft drinks, sport beverages, energy drinks and alcoholic beverages. Nowadays, consumers enjoy an ever-widening array of beverages from which to choose. There are all kinds of beverage products one can buy to quench thirst. Flavored coffees and teas, sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks line the grocery shelves but all these are packed with extra calories. Nutrition experts recommend that beverages with few or no calories be consumed more often than those with more calories. Drinking water is still the preferred beverage to fulfill daily water needs. Recommendations in decreasing values are unsweetened tea, coffee, low fat milk, skim milk and soy beverages, noncalorically sweetened beverages, beverages with some nutritional benefits and carbonated soft drinks.