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The relationship between postprandial glycemic response and cognitive function is not clear, although some prior results suggest that an increase in postprandial blood glucose may improve aspects of cognition. The macronutrient profile of milk has been shown to elicit a lower glycemic response with less likelihood of a rebound drop below pre‐consumption level compared to other common beverages such as fruit juice. In addition, some findings indicate a link between appetite and cognition, and milk contains protein, which may affect satiety. Thus, the objective of this randomized, controlled, crossover study was to evaluate the acute glucose, insulin, appetite, and cognitive responses to intake of six commonly consumed beverages (water [control], skim milk, 1% milk, 2% milk, 100% apple juice or a combination of 100% apple juice and 2% milk) in healthy adults. Blood was drawn for glucose and insulin assessments and visual analog scale ratings were collected for fullness, hunger, desire to eat, prospective consumption, energy, and focus from pre‐beverage intake to 180 min post‐beverage intake. A cognitive function test battery was completed prior to and at 30, 90, and 150 min post‐beverage intake. A total of 61 subjects (32 men and 29 women) were evaluated with a mean age of 31.1 ± 1.1 y and a mean BMI of 26.4 ± 0.6 kg/m 2 . Results indicate that beverage type had a significant effect on median postprandial insulin (p < 0.001) and median net incremental area under the curve (niAUC 0–180 min ) ratings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat and prospective food consumption (p < 0.05 for all) but had no significant effect on focus, energy or glucose. Water intake resulted in significantly greater median niAUC 0–180 min hunger ratings versus all other beverage types (p < 0.001 for all). For fullness, the median (interquartile range) niAUC 0–180 min for water intake (−749 [−2817, 242]) was significantly lower versus intake of skim milk (0 [−1610, 1535], p = 0.005), 1% milk (149 [−806, 2270], p < 0.001), 2% milk (−117 [−2340, 1956], p = 0.021) and juice + 2% milk (−509 [−2893, 1213], p = 0.035). The intake of 1% milk (149 [−806, 2270]) significantly increased niAUC 0–180 min for fullness compared with apple juice (30 [−2533, 1235], p = 0.047). None of the cognitive function domains were significantly affected by treatment condition or at specific time points, with the exception of the Simple Reaction Time at 30 min post‐beverage intake, where intake of 1% milk and 2% milk + juice resulted in faster reaction times compared to water (p = 0.024 and p = 0.023, respectively). In conclusion, beverage type significantly affected postprandial insulin and appetite, but not postprandial glucose or most measures of cognitive function. Support or Funding Information The Dairy Research Institute/National Dairy Council, Rosemont, IL