Dietary Recommendations and Implementation: Water
In addition to foods containing water, the average adult needs about two quarts of water every day. Water intake must be increased even more for active people and those in hot environments.
Beverages other than water are a part of many diets. These beverages can have an effect on good health.
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are often substituted for water in the diet. Coffee (with caffeine) consumption has been associated with modest increases in blood cholesterol and in some people can cause symptoms such as irregular heartbeat. Tea has not been shown to have similar effects, though this may be because test drinkers typically consume less volume than coffee drinkers. Both beverages contain caffeine as do many soft drinks, though drip coffee typically contains two to three times the caffeine of a typical cola drink.
Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can have negative health implications because the alcohol often replaces many of the ten "key nutrients." Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with the increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and osteoporosis. Long-term, excessive alcoholic beverage consumption leads to cirrhosis of the liver, and the increased risk of hepatitis and cancer. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in low birth weight, fetal alcoholism, and other damage to the fetus.
Dietary Recommendation and Implementation: Beverages
Servings of coffee, tea, and soft drinks should not be considered as substitutes for water and/or other beverages or foods such as low-fat milk, fruit juices, or foods rich in calcium, which provide sources of key nutrients.
Daily servings of beverages containing caffeine should be limited to three or less.
For good health, alcohol consumption is not recommended, but for those who drink them, a limit of one ounce of alcohol per day is recommended (one ounce equals two beers, small wine drinks or average size cocktails).