Americans drink way too many calories, a researcher says. U.S. adults consume more than 20 percent of their daily calories through beverages, according to Barry M. Popkin, of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. That's twice the recommended caloric intake. "Many people either forget or don't realize how many extra calories they consume in what they drink," said Popkin, a professor of nutrition. He is lead author of Healthy Beverage Guidelines, which appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Not surprisingly, the guideline recommends more water and less soda pop and other caloric but nutritionally bankrupt beverages. It also suggests holding back on fruit juice, not more than eight ounces. While nutritious, fruit juices are high in calories.