Abstract: The invention provides a formulated beverage composition that can be administered to a patient, prior to anesthesia, sedation and/or surgical or dental operation, to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia while simultaneously improving the well-being of the patient. The beverage composition is designed to be taken orally, by a patient, within a specified short period of time prior to administration of an anesthesia and/or sedative/analgesic. Further described herein is the method of using the beverage composition. The method may include providing a written label of instructions affixed to the beverage container which instructions positively direct the patient's ingestion of the beverage composition.