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Learning Environment » Water, not Sports Drinks

Water, not Sports Drinks

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition and Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness conducted a thorough review of the literature from 2000 to 2009 on sports and energy drinks.

“Water is also generally the appropriate first choice for hydration before, during, and after most exercise regimens. Children should have free access to water, particularly during school hours.  Pediatric athletes can benefit from using sports drinks that contain carbohydrates, protein, or electrolytes; however, for the average child engaged in routine physical activity, the use of sports drinks in place of water on the sports field or in the school lunchroom is generally unnecessary.”  http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/05/25/peds.2011-0965.full.pdf+html

“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best. Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay.  It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals.  Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”  (Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FAAP)

Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine. Caffeine – by far the most popular stimulant – has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents.  (Marcie Beth Schneider, MD, FAAP and Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FAAP)

American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations include:

  • Pediatricians should highlight the difference between sports drinks and energy drinks with patients and their parents, and talk about the potential health risks.
  • Energy drinks pose potential health risks because of the stimulants they contain, and should never be consumed by children or adolescents.
  • Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted, because they can increase the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as dental erosion.
  • Sports drinks have a limited function for pediatric athletes; they should be ingested when there is a need for rapid replenishment of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes in combination with water during prolonged, vigorous physical activity.
  • Water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents