The question of whether there is a difference between the way the body processes calories from liquid products and those in solid foods is an evolving area of research. The U.S. report on Dietary Guidelines (2010) reported “limited body of evidence shows conflicting results about whether liquid and solid foods differ in their effects on energy intake and body weight”. The most important is the balance of energy intake and energy expenditure.
Examples of energy content of some beverages:[1]
| Total sugars (range – g/100 ml) | Fat (average value – g/100 ml) | Energy (average value – kcal/100 ml) | |
| 100% orange juice | 8.4-11.4 | Trace | 42.4 |
| 100% grape juice | 15-16.5 | Trace | 67.5 |
| Sugar-sweetened soda | 9.1-11.2 | Trace | 44.1 |
| 100% apple juice | 9.8-11.5 | Trace | 46.8 |
| Whole milk | 4.6 | 3.6 | 65.1 |
| Semi-skimmed milk | 4.6 | 1.6 | 48.1 |
[1] Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail (Anses). Tables de composition nutritionnelle Ciqual 2008.