Can 'Healthy' Drinks Be Sugarcoated?

How would you estimate your liquid sugar intake? MSNBC reports that a Center for Disease Control study of 17,000 people found that half of Americans have at least one sugary drink a day, meaning soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks or sweetened bottled water.

Men and boys were the highest consumers of sugary drinks, which the American Heart Association says should be under 450 calories per week.

Even among a health-conscious group like those at the , however, opinions around Ballwin and Ellisville on how unhealthy excess sugar can be are varied.

“If I see it, I like it, I taste it, I eat it. So what?” said John Anderson, 68 of Cedar Hill, MO, who said he came to last week's market for the live music.

Others keep the sweetened drinks natural or less sugared.

“Other than juice, we don’t have anything sugary,” said Teresa Jenkins, 48, of Wildwood. Jenkins, also a visitor to the farmers market, said she opts for Simply Lemonade and Simply Orange juice because of the drinks' nutritional content.

“I don’t particularly care for them — all I drink is water and lemonade,” said Jim Flannery, 45, of Gerald, MO, an organic produce vendor at the farmers market. A friend challenged him to drop soda, he said, because the friend said Flannery was “living with one [soda] in your hand." Flannery hasn't had one since, he said, and that was 13 years ago.

Lemonade and other products still contain sugar and labels may be misleading, however, so consumers should be extra wary of those drinks, according to guidelines by the CDC. Coffee drinks and fruit juices are frequent offenders when it comes to hidden sugars.

“I would rather they don’t even have juice. It's milk and water. That’s what the doctor said,” said Debby Ross, 47, of DeSoto, who was visiting the farmers market with her daughter and grandchildren.

Many families take a moderate approach to sugary drinks in their homes, alternating options or reserving them for special occasions. Tracy Spinaio, 36, of Ballwin, was finishing up a shopping trip to Target when I caught up with her. Sugary drinks are only a treat in her home, she said.

“We have too much sugar already, so we try to limit the sugar we have," Spinaio said.

Jamie Berin, 36, and her husband Scott, also 36, balance sugary drinks with healthy options, and uses compromises like the Capri Sun waters.

“Our family policy is moderation," Jamie said. "No, we don’t deny anything, but we don’t go overboard one way or the other."