Sports Drinks and vitamins water
Sports Drinks
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks may be beneficial if your child participates in endurance sports that last longer than an hour (such as long-distance running and biking, or high-intensity exercise such as soccer, basketball, or hockey). These drinks contain carbohydrates (sugar), which can provide an immediate source of energy at a time when the body's stores are becoming depleted. Sports drinks also contain electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which the body loses through sweat, that are necessary to keep the body's fluid levels in balance and for muscles to work properly.
Sports drinks are sweet, which may aid hydration in kids who otherwise wouldn't drink during periods of intense activity. Of course, these drinks contain calories, too, and can increase the risk of excess weight gain if your child is active and drinks these in moderation, this shouldn't be a problem. However, sports drinksare not necessary for the casual athlete. If your sedentary child is a fan of sports beverages, consider sidelining these drinks in favor of plain water.
Vitamin Waters
These drinks, which are also known as fitness waters or enhanced waters, come in many flavors and contain various combinations of supplemental vitamins and minerals. They also often contain extra calories, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, or herbal ingredients whose effects have not been studied in children (such as ginseng or St. John's wort).
Vitamin waters may look like a quick way to fill any nutrition gaps in your child's diet, but these nutrients can come from a healthy meal or snack, too. Also, they can provide too much of a good thing, particularly if your child already takes a daily multivitamin. Getting more than the recommended daily allowance of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful to a child's health. Keep in mind that the daily allowances listed on the label are recommendations for adults, not kids.
The best place for your child to get daily nutrients is from balanced meals. If you're concerned that your child isn't getting enough, talk to your child's doctor, who may recommend a daily multivitamin formulated for kids.
Energy Drinks
These are becoming increasingly popular with middle- and high-school students who are looking for a competitive edge. And while some energy drinks are clearly labeled as unsuitable for children, others are specifically marketed to kids as young as 4, promising boosts in energy and nutrition as well as enhanced athletic performance.
Most energy drinks deliver a stiff dose of sugar and caffeine sometimes as much caffeine as in 1 to 3 cups of coffee. Too much sugar can put your child in the fast lane to the dentist's office and also contribute to weight gain. Excessive caffeine comes with its own set of problems especially in younger kids, it can negatively affect attention and concentration.
Few studies have examined the effect of caffeine on children, but consider how you feel when you've had too much. Caffeine is indeed a stimulant though a widely used and accepted one and because children are smaller than adults and haven't yet developed a tolerance to it, its effects on them may be more pronounced. As in adults, too much caffeine can cause:
jitteriness and nervousness
upset stomach
headaches
difficulty concentrating
difficulty sleeping
frequent urination
Many of these drinks also contain additional ingredients whose safety or effectiveness has never been tested in children including herbal supplements, guarana (a source of caffeine), and taurine (an amino acid thought to enhance performance).
The bottom line is this: Energy drinks offer no real health or performance benefit for kids. Children who participate in sports should learn that they can improve their game through hard work and practice values that will serve them well both on and off the field. Encouraging kids to believe that they need something "extra" to perform at their best is a slippery slope that may lead to the use of other performance-enhancing substances.
Sports Drinks and vitamins water
By: Dr Izharul Hasan
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