Healthy Difference: Sports, energy drinks may not be good for children

6:38 PM, May 30, 2011

Amanda Terrebonne

(KTHV) -- A lot of parents and children think energy and sports drinks are the same - and a good way to give kids a boost when they're playing soccer, baseball, softball, or football.

But the American Academy of Pediatrics says that's not the case.
Twins Emma and Connor Waldron are very active 10 years olds, so their mom lets them have a sports drink after a tough practice or game.

"My daughter trains for gymnastics. She's there for 3 and a half hours every evening so I let her have it after that and my son after a baseball game," says Meryle Waldron.

Sports drinks and energy drinks are increasingly popular with children and teens - but a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics says most kids who play recreational sports - don't need sports drinks.

"Sports drinks contain carbohydrates which can give you energy but they also give you calories and can contribute to obesity, being overweight and also dental erosion," says Dr. Alanna Levine, spokesperson for American Academy of Pediatrics.

The academy says energy drinks are even more harmful - and have no place in a kid's diet.

Energy drinks contain stimulants like caffeine and some of the energy drinks contain so much of them, it's the equivalent of drinking up to 14 cans of caffeinated soda.

Caffeine can affect the development of a child's nervous system and cardiovascular system. Pediatricians say the best way to keep young people hydrated - just plain water - before during and after practice.

Doctors say a sports drink may be okay if a child participates in repeated, heavy duty aerobic exercise.

"I feel like the kids can use the calories after they do their sports and they need the drink and it helps with their electrolytes and the calories aren't going to make a difference. They burn up so many calories," says Waldron.

But Emma and Connor are only allowed one sports drink a day. The rest of the time, they're happy to drink water.

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