"According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, in the United States in 2010 Americans consumed 29,325 millions of gallons of refreshment beverages including soft drinks, coffee, tea, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, and bottled water. As in the past, carbonated soft drinks remained the largest category of consumed beverages. In recent decades total caloric consumption has increased in the United States and is largely attributed to increased consumption of snacks and caloric beverages. People between the ages of nineteen and thirty-nine obtain 10 percent of their total energy intake from soft drinks. In all age groups the consumption of total beverages provides, on average, 21 percent of daily caloric intake. This is 7 percent higher than the IOM acceptable caloric intake from beverages. Moreover, the high intakes of soft drinks and sugary beverages displace the intake of more nutrient-dense beverages, such as low-fat milk.\n\nScientific studies have demonstrated that while all beverages are capable of satisfying thirst they do not make you feel full, or satiated. This means that drinking a calorie-containing beverage with a meal only provides more calories, as it won’t be offset by eating less food. The Beverage Panel of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has taken on the challenge of scientifically evaluating the health benefits and risks of beverage groups and providing recommendations for beverage groups. In regards to soft drinks and fruit drinks, The Beverage Panel states that they increase energy intake, are not satiating, and that there is little if any reduction in other foods to compensate for the excess calories. All of these factors contribute to increased energy intake and obesity. The Beverage Panel recommends an even lower intake of calories from beverages than IOM—10 percent or less of total caloric intake.\n\nTable 3.10 Recommendations of the Beverage Panel\n\nBeverage | Servings per day*\n\nWater | ≥ 4 (women), ≥ 6 (men)\n\nUnsweetened coffee and tea | ≤ 8 for tea, ≤ 4 for coffee\n\nNonfat and low-fat milk; fortified soy drinks | ≤ 2\n\nDiet beverages with sugar substitutes | ≤ 4\n\n100 percent fruit juices, whole milk, sports drinks | ≤ 1\n\nCalorie-rich beverages without nutrients | ≤ 1, less if trying to lose weight\n\n*One serving is eight ounces.\n\nSource: Beverage Panel Recommendations and Analysis. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. US Beverage Guidance Council. http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/nutrans/policy/beverage/us-beverage-panel. Accessed November 6, 2012.\n\n1. US Liquid Refreshment Beverage Market Increased by 1.2% in 2010, Beverage Marketing Corporation Reports. Beverage Marketing Corporation. http://www.beveragemarketing.com/?section=pressreleases. Published 2010. Accessed March 17, 2011.\n\n2. Beverage Intake in the United States. The Beverage Panel, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/beverage. Accessed October 2, 2011. See Figure 6.8, Percentage of Daily Caloric Intake from Beverage Groups.\n\n3. US Liquid Refreshment Beverage Market Increased by 1.2% in 2010, Beverage Marketing Corporation Reports. Beverage Marketing Corporation. http://www.beveragemarketing.com/?section=pressreleases. Accessed March 17,"