When it comes to beverages for our kids, especially ones who are active in sports, there’s an enormous selection of sodas, juices, teas, and bottled waters to choose from - including the popular buzzword: sports drinks.
Sports and energy drinks include anything from vitamin waters to “high energy” supplement drinks, all with common ingredients to “do” something extra (ie: boosting nutrition, enhancing performance, increasing energy, etc). With spring sports in full swing and the warmer weather creeping up on us, kids are likely to reach for a sports drink to hydrate and quench their thirst after play, but are they even a good option for kids?
Not necessarily. Typically, the average young athlete can get all necessary nutrients and hydration simply from eating health foods and drinking plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. With sugar as a primary ingredient in these beverages, they can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and enamel erosion if too much is consumed.
Studies have shown the erosive potential sports drinks have. This damage to tooth enamel cannot be fixed and will cause teeth to become sensitive to touch plus make them more susceptible to cavities and decay.
Avoid all of these problems by substituting these beverages with water to rehydrate and healthy snacks to help sustain your child’s performance on the field. If your child just can’t live without his/her favorite sports drink - just be mindful and monitor the amount they consume. Try to limit the consumption to a single serving and replace the other servings with water!
Sports and energy drinks include anything from vitamin waters to “high energy” supplement drinks, all with common ingredients to “do” something extra (ie: boosting nutrition, enhancing performance, increasing energy, etc). With spring sports in full swing and the warmer weather creeping up on us, kids are likely to reach for a sports drink to hydrate and quench their thirst after play, but are they even a good option for kids?
Not necessarily. Typically, the average young athlete can get all necessary nutrients and hydration simply from eating health foods and drinking plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. With sugar as a primary ingredient in these beverages, they can contribute to obesity, tooth decay, and enamel erosion if too much is consumed.
Studies have shown the erosive potential sports drinks have. This damage to tooth enamel cannot be fixed and will cause teeth to become sensitive to touch plus make them more susceptible to cavities and decay.
Avoid all of these problems by substituting these beverages with water to rehydrate and healthy snacks to help sustain your child’s performance on the field. If your child just can’t live without his/her favorite sports drink - just be mindful and monitor the amount they consume. Try to limit the consumption to a single serving and replace the other servings with water!
No comments:
Post a Comment