Well imagine having only three networks to watch and a set of rabbit ears for reception; or shouting instructions to your dad out the window while he crawled around on the roof to adjust the TV antennae. That was the extent of television entertainment 30 years ago.

Today, variety is something we’ve come to expect. Perhaps you’re a cupcake fanatic with a competitive streak who performs best under pressure. There’s a show for you.  Or maybe watching city slickers noodle for catfish in the muddy waters of Oklahoma is more your genre. There’s a show for you too.

Variety of entertainment, just as with food and beverages, gives life flavor. Here at Sip & Savor, we’re enjoying more variety in the beverages our member companies produce than ever before. Flavored waters, sports drinks, diet sodas, energy drinks, 100 percent juices and teas provide variety and options for maximum enjoyment to fit your lifestyle.  So, sip away and celebrate the variety!

Here are some fun facts about hydration that you might not know:

• Did you know it only takes a loss of one to two percent of your body’s ideal water content to cause dehydration? Vigorous activity during the winter, such as sledding, skating, snowboarding and skiing, along with the addition of extra layers of clothing can lead to rapid loss of body fluid and can cause hydration more quickly than you think.
• Did you also know that high altitude can affect hydration? Higher elevations cause harder and more frequent breathing, resulting in loss of more fluids. So, if you’re hitting the slopes, take a little extra time to make sure you’re well hydrated.

So stay active – and hydrated – during these winter months.  Winter has a lot of fun activities to offer, but remember these tips while you’re active. Your body will thank you for it. Please check out our website to learn more about our industry’s myriad products and to find out more about hydration.

First of all, numerous peer-reviewed published studies have shown that diet sodas are proven to be an effective tool for weight loss and weight maintenance. Individuals seeking to lose weight often switch to low-calorie sweeteners in order to reduce their caloric intake.

Even so, it’s important to keep in mind that all calories count when it comes to weight gain, regardless of their source.   Science has shown that the key to maintaining a healthy weight is energy balance—balancing calories consumed with calories burned through daily physical activity.

Low-calorie sweeteners can help reduce calories and sugar intake and aid in maintaining a healthy weight – so, next time you are picking up a beverage, remember that there’s room in a balanced diet for all foods and beverages.  And to help you out, check out our Clear on Calories labels the next time you are at the store.  We suspect it’ll help you make the decision that’s right for you and your family.

And if you want to read our response to the recently presented abstracts, you can read our statement here.

This is an unfortunate and grotesque misuse of taxpayer dollars that were intended to create jobs and stimulate the economy.  Hiring PR firms is hardly stimulating job growth, and unjustly attacking one industry hardly qualifies as a ‘shovel-ready project.’  How are these ads creating jobs in New York City or elsewhere? If anything, this money is going to activities that will stymie job creation and cost people good-paying jobs.

These grants could be used to create jobs and improve public health.  In fact, these federal funds could have gone to local communities to maintain the operation of public parks, bike trails and after-school programs.  Efforts such as these would not only achieve an admirable public health goal, but also accomplish the original intent of the stimulus package, to add jobs to a lagging economy.

In the end, it’s a remarkable statement of misplaced priorities. At time when budget deficits are at all-time highs – and families are still struggling in the economy – we have federal and city agencies wasting taxpayer money on advertising … and false advertising at that.

In fact, many florists suggest mixing a dash of lemon-lime soda with water to keep flowers perky and bright.  Why?  Because the citric acid can help prevent or reduce wilting.  So, if you’re looking to keep your flowers looking beautiful, don’t forget:  soft drinks can be more than just a refreshing treat!

Why is it a major problem to ignore this crucial piece of data? Because obesity and overweight are significant risk factors for heart disease and stroke – according to the American Heart Association, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and WebMD, just to name a few sources.

So why would this study fail to account for such an obvious and high-profile risk factor?

Could it be that what really connects those in this study together is that they’re overweight or obese?

And because they’re overweight and obese, they’re drinking diet sodas in order to help control or reduce their weight. Diet soda likely is just a bystander in this study – a common dietary choice being made by people at risk of heart disease for other reasons such as their weight.

Medical experts are raising the same questions about what was ignored by the study:

Dr. Nehal N. Mehta, director of inflammatory risk cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania told MSNBC.com: “Soda may not be the villain. It may be the other things that people consume in association with diet soda.”

Phillip B. Gorelick, MD, MPH, head of neurology and stroke research at the University of Illinois in Chicago, says the study wasn’t a good way to gauge people’s overall dietary patterns. He told WebMD: “You have to look at what people eat in totality. People who are reducing calories by drinking diet soda may have an unhealthy dietary pattern, consuming a lot of fat and salt, for example.”

ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser said: “This study has major flaws and should not change anyone’s diet soda consumption.”

It’s disheartening that a study about heart health issues would so easily dismiss such a prominent risk factor as obesity and overweight. And it’s reckless that the study’s authors attack the diet beverages people are choosing as one way to help control and reduce that risk factor.

Diet soda is safe. Certainly safer for public consumption than some of the science out there.

Here’s just a sampling of the criticism the abstract is receiving from medical professionals:

Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News Medical Correspondent, best summed up the credibility of the abstract by lead author Hannah Gardener of the University of Miami:

“When I see a bad study out there, I usually say let’s not talk about it. But when it captures headlines, it’s worth doing a reality check. And I have to say this is one of the worst studies I’ve seen capturing headlines in a long time. It’s bad because of the science. But it’s also bad because of the behavior that it can induce and the fear that people have. I don’t think people should change behavior based on this study.”

Even Dr. Nancy Snyderman, often a critic of beverages, called the abstract into question on the Today Show:

“The beverage industry does have a point, that we really don’t – there’s no reason to think that this is – there’s a villain in diet beverages. I drink them. But I think you have to remember, it isn’t water. It isn’t – there’s nothing nutritional in it. It’s a treat.”

WebMD.com wrote that “the study doesn’t prove cause and effect.” Its story quotes Phillip B. Gorelick, MD, MPH, head of neurology and stroke research at the University of Illinois in Chicago, who says the food questionnaire used in the study isn’t a good way to gauge people’s overall dietary patterns. “You have to look at what people eat in totality,” he tells WebMD. “People who are reducing calories by drinking diet soda may have an unhealthy dietary pattern, consuming a lot of fat and salt, for example. And that won’t be picked up using a questionnaire like the one used here.”

But some of the most damning words about the abstract come from the author herself when forced to answer for her assertions. Here’s what lead author Hannah Gardner of the University of Miami, Fla., said in the media today:

“It’s reasonable to have doubts, because we don’t have a clear mechanism. This needs to be viewed as a preliminary study.” – quoted in USA Today.

“We can’t assume that the relationship is causal because it was just an observational study with potential limitations.” – quoted in Cardiology Today.

“I don’t think that anyone should be changing their behaviors based on one study.” – quoted on MSNBC.com.

The problem is that real people are potentially being harmed by this abstract and the misleading headlines it generated. Yes, we’re upset because a set of our products was attacked without foundation. But there are consumers out there who rely on diet sodas in order to lead a healthy lifestyle. They received an unnecessary dose of inaccurate news today.

Many Americans struggling with their weight choose diet beverages to help control their weight and even lose weight. And millions of Americans living with diabetes turn to diet beverages for a safe, refreshing beverage choice.

Again, as Dr. Besser said:  “It’s bad because of the science, but it’s also bad because of the behavior that it can induce and the fear that people have.”

Diet soda is safe. Don’t fall for so-called science geared to garner headlines, not better health.

Many florists suggest mixing a dash of citrus-flavored soda with water to keep flowers perky and bright.  So, as you take on the duties of host this season, don’t forget that soft drinks can be more than just a refreshing treat for your guests! 

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Invented by Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union, Maine, Moxie was first sold by the tablespoon as medicine in Lowell, Mass., back in 1876. It entered the market in 1884 as “Beverage Moxie Nerve Food,” until the name was later shortened.

This year’s Moxie Festival brought in 40,000 visitors to celebrate the drink, which was purchased by Cornucopia Beverages in 2007.  “There’s really nothing to compare it to. It’s not a cola, and it’s not a root beer; it’s its own little niche,” Justin Conroy, Moxie brand manager, told the Union Leader of the purchase.

Moxie’s catchy name has become part of the American vernacular.  We don’t truly know what came first – the beverage or the slang term meaning to have vigor or pep. But we do know it sounds like the perfect way to describe the spirit of the participants who braved the rain this weekend to celebrate this little slice of Americana with a parade, race, canoe competition, Moxie recipe contest and more.

In addition to a bill that would ban sports drinks from high schools, other legislation has been introduced that aims to ban aluminum bats at baseball games.  These come on the heels of another bill which has a goal to ban toys in happy meals!

The beverage industry also cares about our nation’s children.  We understand that childhood obesity is a serious problem and a concern for many parents.  And we recognize that schools are special places.  In fact, our industry’s School Beverage Guidelines have dramatically reduced the number of calories available to children and teens throughout the school day.  The guidelines are common-sense and backed by parents, teachers and other community leaders.

But legislation like the proposal to ban sports drinks in high schools seems a bit over the top for teenagers who are exposed to a world of choices as they enter high school and, among other significant milestones, are learning to drive. How can we best prepare them to make the right choice?  We at Sip & Savor believe that, with some guidance from parents, giving them the tools to make dietary decisions that are best for them is a good start.

When it comes to sports drinks, they clearly have a functional place in schools.  In fact, studies show that 53 percent of high school students participate in interscholastic sports before, during and after schools, and sports drinks provide a functional benefit necessary for students to add energy and absorb fluids efficiently.

Just as high school brings a range of options for sport and exercise, so also are increased options for food and beverages to quench thirst and satisfy hunger.  Many studies have proven that adolescents who get the proper amount of physical activity in high schools are more likely make exercise a part of their adult life, too.  Nutrition education, proper physical activity and a balanced diet is the key to healthy living.  And allowing choice in the school environment is appropriate for teens that are learning how to best care for their body.