"Drinkers" could use beverage guidelines

American adults consume about 21% of their daily calories from beverages--twice as much as is recommended by the World Health Organization. In response, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has developed the first set of Healthy Beverage Guidelines.

"Many people either forget or don't realize how many extra calories they consume in what they drink, yet beverages continue to be a major contributor to the alarming increase in obesity," cautions Barry M. Popkin, professor of nutrition.

The Guidelines suggest that people drink more water and limit or eliminate high-calorie beverages with little or no nutritional value. Beverages have been grouped into six categories with recommendations for a range of how much in each category people should drink daily.

* Water: At least four servings for women and six for men. All beverage needs could come from water if desired.

* Calorically sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks without nutrients: Up to one serving--less if trying to lose weight.

* Unsweetened coffee and tea, iced and hot: Up to eight servings of tea and up to four of coffee.

* Nonfat or one percent fat milk and fortified soy beverages: Up to two servings.

* Diet beverages with sugar substitutes: Up to four servings.

* 100% fruit and vegetable juices, whole milk, sports drinks: Up to one serving total.

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