The American Academy of Pediatrics says, think again.
The Skinny on Sports and Energy Drinks
Sports drinks may contain carbohydrates, minerals and other ingredients designed to replace electrolytes lost through sweating.
Energy drinks may contain caffeine, ginseng and performance-enhancing ingredients to keep up an athlete’s stamina.
But these types drinks can cause all kinds of issues for growing bodies, including dental erosion, sleep problems and obesity.
The Academy says water is “generally the appropriate first choice for hydration before, during, and after most exercise regimens.”
The organization steers parents away from sports drinks in general but acknowledges they may benefit kids who exercise vigorously for long periods of time.
But pediatricians say “stimulant-containing energy drinks have no place in the diets of children or adolescents.”
It seems like the easy solution would be to just not allow your kids to have energy and sports drinks. But as any parent knows, when you try to steer your children away from popular products, you fight a regular battle against a pretty fierce nemesis.
Advertising.
Watch just about any professional sporting event and you’ll see plenty of sports and energy drink companies advertising their products.
A new study published in the medical journal Pediatrics looked into which televised sporting events these companies advertise with most.
Of the events researchers studied, the National Football League has the most food and beverage sponsors, followed by the National Hockey League and Little League.
Researchers concluded that “sports sponsorships are commonly used to market unhealthy food and nonalcoholic beverages” and that “youth watched telecasts associated with these sports organizations over 412 million times.”
The next time your youngster begs for a sports or energy drink, keep in mind there’s a chance it’s because they saw ads for it during a game on TV.
If you’re not sure whether or not to avoid these types of drinks, consult your pediatrician for advice on what’s best for your child.
And remember, water is a great alternative, and a lot cheaper to boot.
Lisa McGreevy is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She loves telling readers about affordable ways to stay healthy, so look her up on Twitter (@lisah) if you’ve got a tip to share.
This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
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