According to pediatricians, children must not be given energy drinks with potentially harmful caffeine levels. They need to understand the difference between energy drinks and sports drinks. Most kids don't need energy drinks that are heavily marketed to them, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a report published in Monday's issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Dr. Marcie Beth Schneider, a co-author of the report said, “There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks, and adolescents are often unaware of the differences in these products…Some kids are drinking energy drinks — containing large amounts of caffeine — when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.”
Sports drinks, which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring, are meant to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. These can help young athletes sweating through prolonged, vigorous physical activity such as tournaments played in hot, humid weather with little recovery time between competitions. But for most children doing routine physical activity, drinking plain water should be the first choice before, during and after most exercise, the authors said. Sports drinks contain extra calories that contribute to obesity and tooth decay.
The researchers explained that energy drinks can also be harmful to health since they contain stimulants such as caffeine. This has been linked to cardiovascular and neurological effects in children. “Rigorous review and analysis of the literature reveal that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents,” the paper's authors said.
In a statement responding to the clinical report, the American Beverage Association agreed that sports drinks and energy drinks are very different beverage choices that should be assessed and marketed differently. “Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages that are specifically marketed with an energizing effect and a unique combination of characterizing ingredients. While their ingredients and labeling comply fully with all regulatory requirements, they are not intended for young consumers,” the beverage trade group said.
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