How Much Do You Know About Beverages?

People have many choices to quench their thirst. Some of the beverages are better for us than others. Look through the list below to see if your drink of choice is included.

1. An Arnold Palmer Drink

Most people know that a drink of equal parts iced tea and lemonade is named after the golfer Arnold Palmer. However, they might not know why. Arnold Palmer himself reported that he was thirsty on a hot summer day in the 1960s. He ordered a mixture of lemonade and iced tea. A woman sitting nearby heard the legendary golfer's order and asked the server to bring her "that Arnold Palmer drink." If a shot of vodka is added to the mixture, it becomes a John Daly.

2. A Roy Rogers

There is also a beverage named after Roy Rogers, the cowboy singer and actor. The Roy Roger is a mocktail mixture of grenadine syrup and cola with a maraschino cherry on top. This non-alcoholic drink is a good choice for people who do not consume alcohol.

3. The Shirley Temple

Like the Arnold Palmer and Roy Rogers, the Shirley Temple is non-alcoholic made with just two ingredients. The drink got its name because the child actress wanted something fancy to drink. According to the legend, a bartender made her the mocktail containing a mixture of ginger ale and a splash of grenadine. Lime juice can be added, and it can be garnished with a maraschino cherry. Shirley Temples are mocktails often served to children when they dine with adults who consume cocktails.

4. Sparkling Water

Sparkling water has become a popular drink for Americans. It is a healthier beverage than sodas. It is a fizzy and flavored beverage that became popular in 2016. Brands that have been around for a while include Canada Dry, La Croix, Perrier, Spindrift, and Pellegrino. Since then, other brands jumped on the bandwagon and have been added to the list. Long aisles in grocery stores contain bottles and cans of sparkling water.

5. Sodas

Not only is caffeine found naturally in many teas and coffee, but it is also found in most sodas, including Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, and Mountain Dew to enhance flavor. Most sodas contain that mild stimulant. However, there are plenty of soft drinks on the market that do not contain any caffeine at all. If you are looking to buy caffeine-free soft drinks, look for clear sodas, such as ginger ale and Sprite. Some root beer brands are also caffeine-free.

6. Gatorade

Gatorade did not come about by accident. In 1965, an assistant coach with the University of Florida football team consulted with a group of doctors and researchers. He was concerned because his players were struggling in the Florida heat.

The researchers discovered the football players were struggling in the heat because of the lack of fluids and electrolytes that were lost through sweat when the players got hot. The researchers invented Gatorade which solved the problem. They named the product after the athletic nickname of the University of Florida — the Gators.

7. Tea

After water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. More people drink tea than they drink coffee. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the world drinks about 6 billion cups of tea each day, especially in China and India. Tea is much older than coffee. Before coffee came about, people had been drinking tea for 3,000 years and were accustomed to it by the time coffee came along. Tea and coffee can be consumed hot or cold with any meal of the day or without any meal at all.

8. Coffee

Coffee is a drink that is brewed from roasted coffee beans. Like tea, it can be consumed hot or cold. Coffee is now a global commodity. Seven in 10 Americans drink coffee every week, and 62% drink coffee every day. The average American coffee drinker consumes over 3 cups per day. Some people can't start their day without a cup of coffee, and some cannot go an entire day with at least one cup of coffee.

9. Milk

Milk is the official beverage in 20 states in America. That's far more than any other official state drink. Among the top 10 largest milk-producing states are Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Milk is so versatile that is not limited to just drinking. It can be used in baking and is a main ingredient in various dishes.

10. Juice

Juice is the liquid from fruits and vegetables. It is usually consumed as a beverage, used as an ingredient in foods, in smoothies, and can be mixed with other beverages. Even though there are many fruit juices, orange juice is the most popular worldwide and has long been a breakfast staple. The juice from an orange is a significant source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that is essential for skin health and iron absorption.

11. Kombucha

Kombucha is a fizzy sweet-and-sour drink made with yeast, sugar, and black tea. The mixture goes through fermentation so bacteria and acids can form as well as a small amount of alcohol. The beverage has been around for nearly 2,000 years. Sales in the United States are on the rise because of its reputation for being a health and energy drink.

Kombucha contains a healthy dose of B vitamins. People who consume the beverage say it helps with digestion, gets rid of toxins in the body, provides energy, boosts the immune system, aid with weight loss, reduces high blood pressure, lower the risk of heart disease, and prevent cancer.

12. Hard Seltzer

A hard seltzer is an alcoholic drink with a combination of alcohol and flavored carbonated water. Hard seltzers have become very popular because it is lower in alcohol content, calories, and sugar compared to other alcoholic drinks. The type of alcohol and the amount of alcohol in hard seltzers depend on the brand. Most hard seltzers have between 4% and 6% alcohol, but some brands have up to 12%.