We tend to associate the word “Sports” with health so when “sports” is coupled with “drink” many of us think that “Sports Drinks” are a healthy alternative to soft drinks for our kids. But this is not the case. Here’s why.
Sports Drinks aren’t even formulated for children. They are intended for adults taking part in intense sports and exercise, and even then, can have detrimental effects on their overall health and dental health. If consumed in large quantities, Sports Drinks can lead to serious health problems including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and gout.
Here’s another reasons we shouldn’t give our kids Sports Drinks. It can save you the trouble of pulling out that decaying baby tooth or dragging your teenager to the dentist for a filling. There are many links between added sugars with dental caries. Dietary sugars such as glucose, sucrose and lactose can cause dental caries as these sugars are converted into acid. This means the more frequently foods containing added sugar are eaten, the greater the risk of caries.
Of most concern is just how often children and teens are drinking Sports Drinks, and it’s not for sports reasons. A research by Food Standards Australia New Zealand found that children were mostly choosing Sports Drinks at social events because of their taste. And it’s no wonder as they are so full of sugar!
For teens, they choose Sports Drinks to differentiate themselves from children as they associate Sports Drinks with adulthood. It’s no wonder they do as most children are made aware of Sports Drinks from television advertising by athletes endorsing the product. Not only do they then associate “Sports Drink” with “Adult”, but also with “health” and “fitness”.
Sports Drinks are laced with sugar which is damaging to children’s overall health and dental health. It’s important for us to educate our kids about these detrimental impacts of Sports Drinks and advise them on more suitable alternatives. As Dr Paul Jackson, President of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK, says, “Water or milk is sufficient enough to hydrate active children, high sugar sports drinks are unnecessary for children and most adults.”
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