Have you noticed the beverage aisle lately? We now have fruit water, electrolyte water, vitamin water, couture water, kid's water, sport water, sparkling water, and spring water from other countries. What's next? 

In 2006, Americans drank more bottled water than milk, making bottled water the second most consumed beverage (after soft drinks, of course). Environmental activists are up in arms about this development, mainly because for some reason people don't recycle their water bottles as often as they do the containers that hold other beverages.

A 10-year study of U.S. beverage consumption conducted by Beverage Digest found that people were drinking fewer soft drinks and less milk and tap water (although they were holding steady on beer!), while their consumption of bottled water increased sharply during the same period.

I, too, am concerned about recycling and the environment, but I worry as much or more about our health. Too many people are gaining weight because of the calories they drink, and obesity is costing America millions in health care. More non-caloric beverages are better than sodas, but do we even need any of these new-fangled waters?

Are you part of the growing numbers who are downing these fancy waters? You might ask yourself whether you truly need to drink more calorie-free beverages — and what is wrong with tap or home-filtered water?

Consider that the health of our bodies and the environment go hand in hand. We can have both. Think about what you drink. What are your thoughts on the water wars?