What Can You Drink on the Mayo Clinic Diet?

December 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the official Mayo Clinic Diet guidelines, water should be your first and primary beverage choice throughout the day. However, other beverages, including coffee, tea, and low-fat dairy, are also permitted with certain considerations, making hydration manageable and varied.

Quick Summary

The Mayo Clinic Diet emphasizes drinking plenty of water, but also allows moderate consumption of low-calorie options like black coffee, tea, and milk. You should avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, particularly in the initial 'Lose It!' phase, to maximize weight loss and health benefits.

Key Points

Prioritize Water: Make water your primary beverage choice throughout the day to stay hydrated and manage weight effectively, as it contains zero calories.
Moderate Coffee and Tea: Plain black coffee and unsweetened teas are permitted but avoid adding high-calorie ingredients like sugar, syrups, or heavy cream.
Include Low-Fat Milk: Low-fat or skim milk contributes to the diet's dairy and protein requirements and can be included in moderation.
Restrict Sugary Drinks: Avoid sugary sodas, fruit punches, and other high-calorie beverages, as they provide unnecessary calories that can hinder weight loss.
Limit Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages should be consumed infrequently and in small amounts, as they are high in calories and are prohibited during the initial 'Lose It!' phase.
Utilize Zero-Calorie Options: Sugar-free soft drinks and flavored waters are acceptable occasionally for variety, but they should not replace water as your primary beverage.
Beware of Liquid Calories: Be mindful that liquid calories can accumulate quickly, and whole fruits and vegetables are often more filling than their juice counterparts.
Infuse Water for Flavor: Add natural flavors to water using fruits like lemon or cucumber and herbs like mint to make hydration more enjoyable without added sugar.

Hydration is a cornerstone of the Mayo Clinic Diet, serving as a powerful tool for weight management and overall health. Unlike restrictive fad diets, the Mayo Clinic plan offers a balanced approach to beverage consumption by emphasizing low-calorie choices while allowing for some variety. The core principle is to prioritize water and be mindful of liquid calories, which can add up quickly and hinder progress. This comprehensive guide outlines the best beverage choices and explains how they fit into the two phases of the diet: 'Lose It!' and 'Live It!'.

The Role of Beverages in the Mayo Clinic Diet

Proper hydration is essential for regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, preventing infections, and delivering nutrients to cells. On the Mayo Clinic Diet, mindful drinking habits are emphasized to support weight loss by promoting feelings of fullness and preventing the consumption of unnecessary calories from sugary beverages. The program encourages followers to make water their primary drink and to be aware of the caloric density of other liquids, such as fruit juices and milk.

Approved and Recommended Drinks

Water: The Foundation of Hydration As the number one recommendation, plain, carbonated, or flavored water (with zero-calorie flavorings) should be consumed throughout the day. The Mayo Clinic suggests aiming for around 6-8 glasses daily, or enough to meet your body's specific fluid needs. Adding slices of lemon, cucumber, or mint can provide a refreshing, flavorful twist without adding sugar or calories.

Coffee and Tea: Enjoyed with Caution Plain black coffee and unsweetened herbal or black tea are permitted and are good low-calorie options. However, the key is to avoid high-calorie additions like heavy cream, excessive sugar, or flavored syrups. In the 'Lose It!' phase, you should limit coffee and tea to ensure you are breaking old habits, but moderate amounts are fine for the long term.

Milk and Dairy Alternatives Milk is a source of valuable nutrients, including protein and calcium, and counts toward the diet's protein and dairy food group. Opting for low-fat or skim milk is recommended to keep calories in check. Unsweetened milk alternatives like almond or soy milk can also be included, depending on your personalized meal plan.

Occasional and Limited Options Some beverages are acceptable in moderation, primarily during the 'Live It!' phase, when the diet becomes more flexible:

Sugar-free soft drinks and flavored water: These can be enjoyed occasionally, but water is still the best choice.
Alcohol: Should be consumed in small, infrequent amounts, as alcoholic beverages are high in calories. Alcohol is strictly limited in the initial 'Lose It!' phase.

Beverages to Limit or Avoid

Sugar-sweetened beverages: Regular sodas, sweetened juices, and many sports drinks contain high amounts of added sugar and calories, which are counterproductive to weight loss goals.
High-calorie coffee add-ins: Avoid flavored syrups, whipped cream, and half-and-half, as they significantly increase a beverage's caloric content.

Beverage Comparison Table


Beverage Type	Allowed on Mayo Clinic Diet?	Key Consideration	Best Phase for Consumption
Water (plain/sparkling)	Yes	Unlimited, zero calories	Both 'Lose It!' and 'Live It!'
Black Coffee / Unsweetened Tea	Yes	Avoid high-calorie add-ins	Both phases; moderate in 'Lose It!'
Low-Fat Milk	Yes	Counts towards dairy serving	Both 'Lose It!' and 'Live It!'
Sugar-Free Sodas	Sometimes	Best to use sparingly for variety	Primarily 'Live It!'
Alcohol	Infrequently	Limit to small amounts, high in calories	Primarily 'Live It!'; prohibited in 'Lose It!'
Sugary Juices/Sodas	No	Avoid due to high added sugar	Neither phase

Practical Tips for Mindful Drinking

Track your intake: Use the Mayo Clinic Diet's online food and exercise tracker to monitor your fluid consumption, especially for beverages other than water.
Infuse for flavor: Add natural flavors to water with fruit and herbs to make it more appealing. Try combinations like lemon and ginger or cucumber and mint.
Order wisely: When eating out, stick to water, black coffee, or plain tea to avoid hidden calories in restaurant beverages.
Know your liquids: Be aware that even healthy-sounding options like smoothies can be high in calories, depending on the ingredients. The Mayo Clinic website offers healthy smoothie recipes for those on the plan.

Conclusion

The Mayo Clinic Diet's approach to beverages is straightforward and sustainable. By prioritizing water and exercising moderation with low-calorie options like coffee, tea, and milk, you can effectively support your weight loss journey. Avoiding high-calorie, sugary drinks is a key habit to break during the initial phase and maintain long-term. The emphasis on mindful drinking reinforces the diet's core philosophy of building healthy, lasting habits rather than relying on restrictive rules.

Disclaimer: Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions like diabetes. The Mayo Clinic Diet provides general guidelines, but individual needs may vary.

Mayo Clinic Diet website for member resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, sugar-free soft drinks and flavored waters can be included on the Mayo Clinic Diet, especially during the 'Live It!' phase, but plain water is still recommended as the first choice.

Alcohol is only recommended in small, infrequent amounts because it is high in calories. It is strictly prohibited during the initial 'Lose It!' phase of the diet.

Yes, plain black coffee is a good low-calorie option. The diet recommends avoiding high-calorie additions like cream, sugar, and flavored syrups.

The diet encourages consuming whole fruits and vegetables rather than juices, as they are more filling and lower in calories. While the Mayo Clinic offers some smoothie recipes, be mindful of ingredients to keep calorie counts in check.

The Mayo Clinic Diet recommends aiming for 6-8 glasses (48-64 ounces) of water each day, though individual fluid needs may vary based on activity level and health status.

Low-fat or skim milk can be included and counts toward your daily protein and dairy servings. Unsweetened milk alternatives like almond or soy milk are also typically acceptable.

You should be cautious with energy drinks, as they often contain significant amounts of added sugar. Healthier, low-calorie alternatives like water or unsweetened tea are better choices.