Beverages

Beverages include a broad range of drinkable liquids, including water, juices, teas, coffees, beers, sodas, and sports drinks. However, not all beverages help you meet the recommended daily fluid intake healthily, and every beverage provides different nutritional value and calories, with potential links to various health benefits and risks. Water, coffee, and tea without added sweeteners are the healthiest choices (although pregnant people need to limit caffeine to less than 200 milligrams a day). It’s best to drink unflavored milk, 100-percent fruit juice, and beverages with low-calorie sweeteners in moderation, and avoid drinks with added sugar, such as sodas, sports drinks, and energy drinks.

Alcohol may be safe for some people in moderation, but nonalcoholic alternatives are available.

Common Questions & Answers

How much water should I drink daily?

Water intake recommendations vary depending on birth sex, body weight, your overall diet quality, activity level, and life stage. Speak to a healthcare professional about what a healthy water intake looks like for you.

100 percent fruit juices can provide vitamins and minerals. However, many products are high in natural sugars, with manufacturing processes that strip away nutrients like fiber that are present in whole fruits. Consume them in moderation.

Many teas contain different antioxidants and plant compounds that provide various health benefits. For example, green tea may support better heart health and reduce type 2 diabetes risk, and ginger tea may relieve nausea.

Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant that is absorbed into the bloodstream before reaching the central nervous system and increasing activity. This can improve alertness and energy levels, but too much might cause insomnia, nervousness, stomach upset, rapid heartbeat, or tremors.

Sugary drinks are among the least healthy beverages and may contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and heart disease development, increasing your risk of early death. Consider alternatives like seltzer with fruit or home-flavored water.

Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Healthy Drinks. Harvard Nutrition Source.

ALL BEVERAGES ARTICLES

See All Articles