Pediatricians warn against energy drinks for children

Energy drinks are not only unnecessary, but can also prove harmful to children, according to researchers in the United Sates. A recent report put together by a group of US doctors, members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warns against children and teenagers consuming energy drinks. They say that youngsters should avoid them completely and also limit the amount of sports drinks they consume. Instead, they should drink plenty of water every time they need to rehydrate.

Pediatricians say that children do not need energy drinks. These products are high in caffeine and contain other stimulant substances, such as guarana or taurine, which can have side effects. Energy drinks and sports drinks are often marketed to children and teenagers, although youngsters do not really need them and are better off not consuming them at all.  Advertisers say that they improve physical, as well as mental performance, but energy drinks may lead to an increased heart rate and have been known to occasionally provoke seizures (although these cases are very rare).

The report, published in the "Pediatrics" journal, gathered data from previous studies of the effects of energy drinks and sports drinks on the health of children and young people. The difference between the two is that sports drinks, unlike energy drinks, do not contain stimulant substances, although they do contain extra calories; also, the former can be beneficial at times, but only for athletes.

Energy drinks and sports drinks are becoming very popular with children and teenagers, but pediatricians warn that they may not know what they are consuming. The researchers stress the fact that energy drinks often contain a multitude of ingredients, some of which may have side effects and may be more dangerous for children than for adults. They believe that a considerable number of children and teenagers do not know the difference between the two types of drinks and sometimes are not aware that they are unnecessary.

Despite their warning, the authors of the report agree that sports drinks may be beneficial for children who play sports and engage in sustained physical activity. But they say that these drinks are unnecessary for most youngsters who are not athletes, and the extra calories may even cause them to gain weight. The researchers recommend water as the safest and healthiest drink for children. Dr. Holly J. Benjamin, one of the authors of the report, says that water is the best for kids who engage in normal physical activity.

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