Consumer health website, www.itsmyhealth.com.au reports that children and adolescents should not consume sports drinks.
“Caffeine-containing "energy" drinks should never be used by children and adolescents, and carbohydrate-rich "sports" drinks should be restricted or avoided completely,” according to an American Academy of Pediatrics report in the journal Pediatrics.
The review by a committee of paediatricians urged doctors to educate parents about the dangers of such drinks claiming that both parents and children alike were confused about the differences between the two types, and were unaware of potential harm they could cause.
The report claims that energy drinks expose children to high levels of caffeine which can have an effect on heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure, and are also likely to make any underlying anxiety problems worse.
The sports drinks, it said, were high in calories and likely to lead to weight gain and obesity. In addition, some of the drinks contain flavour enhancing acids that have been shown to erode tooth enamel long after the drink is finished.
The committee said that these drinks may have a role if children are taking part in prolonged and vigorous activities, but added that plenty of water and a normal balanced diet should adequately replace all salts, mineral, proteins and water lost through exercise.
The full article is available at http://www.itsmyhealth.com.au/healthy-living/nutrition/say-no-to-sports-drinks-for-kid--paediatricians.
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