The Problem with Young People Drinking Energy Drinks
Within the past week, one of my daughters has told me a few things about one of her friends. At the time, I didn’t make any sort of conncetion - then I got to thinking about it and did a little reading up on the subject.
Her friend, we’ll call Jennifer, drinks Energy Drinks and had even recommended a few to my daughter. Jennifer, my daughter tells me, rarely ever sleeps - and when she does, it’s usually for only a couple of hours. Sounds pretty healthy, doesn’t it? For some reason kids seem to think this is a cool thing. I’m afraid that one day they’ll realize it’s anything but.
Another interesting thing going on in Jennifer’s life is that her grades have started falling off. Normally an A student, she’s lucky to get a C now.
Have you noticed how terrible cool and sexy the manufacturers are making the energy drinks? And the names: Red Bull, Monster, Venom…. Why drink bottled water when you can swill a Monster? I noticed the other day there’s one called Rock Star now. It’s pretty obvious who they’re targeting.
All parents know they have to carefully pick their battles - after all, a young person has little tolerance for what they consider nagging. And I’m sure that a lot of parents wish that energy drinks were all they had to worry about their kid drinking.
So are they worth suiting up for? Should we bother hauling out the parental battle fatigues or leave them hanging for something else? To further complicate matters, will making them seem somewhat forbidden make them all the more appealing?
The facts:
- They’re loaded with sugar and caffeine, plus a variety of herbs that aren’t always known to be safe. We all know what it takes to prove that something is in fact unsafe. None of us are willing for our child to be a cited case.
- The amount of caffeine in these drinks is equivalent to a cup of coffee. For most adults this isn’t too big a deal (For me? Drop in the bucket.), but for kids this can lead to insomnia as well as anxiety.
- The Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Leslie Bonci, RD, issued the following statement: “Kids like the revved-up feeling they get from these drinks, but they’re not thinking about the consequences, such as poor school performance and a lack of sleep.”
She suggested making it clear to young people that a healthy diet, vitamins, and exercise will provide them with sustained energy - and in a healthy way. For kids performing heavy activities, she advised using Gatorade or Powerade.
Just something to watch out for and to think about. Our kids are worth it.
Have an amazing week,
- Joi
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
My son is also lured to energy drinks. He usually chooses a vegetable or fruit juice for energy. I’ve made quite a big deal of nutrition while homeschooling him. Thankfully, he and I have a good rapport (even though he is 16)!
Hi, Leslie!
We’re also a homeschooling family - always have been with all 3 of our daughters.
When my girls saw the recent findings on the energy drinks they went back to their fave drinks of choice - Powerade, Tea, and Coke.
My youngest has fallen in love, oddly enough, with Green Tea.
Thanks for commenting!
Joi
I am currently working with a number of athletic associations and families to get our children and families a more healtier choice of sports drinks and energy drink.
Advocare has a great selection of nutritional alternative energy and sports drinks.
“Spark” this ADVOCARE SPARK Energy Drink is a cutting edge formulation that contains the right ingredients to give you the energy that you need to live life to the fullest.* It contains an effective amount of caffeine to give you the quick boost you’re looking for, the right blend of B-vitamins to enhance your body’s natural ability to produce and sustain energy and the added neuroactives to help increase your mental focus.* Together, the 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients in ADVOCARE Spark Energy Drink work synergistically to provide a healthy, balanced and effective source of energy that won’t overburden or stimulate your body like most energy drinks on the market.* And the best part? It’s sugar-free and contains only 45 calories per serving!
If you wish to not have any caffene, we have a alternative Energy Drink called V-16. Maintaining energy levels and mental clarity throughout the day has become an increasingly difficult challenge. V16 energy drink is a unique combination of adaptogens, vitamins, nutrients, and a balanced blend of B-vitamins in a caffeine-free, effervescent formula designed to provide quick energy and mental focus.* Based on an herbal adaptogen formula used for years by Russia’s top athletes, V16 energy drink turns a glass of water into a quick-pick-me-up beverage that leaves you feeling refreshed and awake within minutes.
Finally, here is a much better sports drink to offer your child and the whole family other than Powerade and Gatorade. Advocare’s “Rehydrate Drink” is the very best in the market today! A comparison test has been done among the Advocare “Rehydrate Drink” to Powerade and Gatorade and there is no comparison. The “Rehydrate Drink” has alot more potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium than the Powerade and Gatorade sports drinks.
You can learn more about the products and see and hear testimonials from over 300 professional and world class athletes about these products. Go to http://www.crankupyourhealth.com to learn more!
Give your kids a much healthier alternative! Spark, V-16, Rehydrate aresome of very best energy and sports drinks in the market today!
Thank you!
Jim
Thanks a lot for the great info, Jim. I’ve already pointed several people in that very direction! -Joi
ya i’m a kid ahnd i drink energy drinks all the time but what you guys think what is bad for us other people my think it’s good
I’m a 23 year old iraq war vet. All you need is a multi vitamin, 8oz of V8, 8oz of milk or soy milk, 8oz of any fruit juice, at least once a day to supplement your diet but that’s basic. Get each at every meal,which is ideal for an active person, with 6 hours of sleep a night and you’ll be one happy camper. I like to eat dinner before dark if possible and run my @SS off on the treadmill. Eat a snack like a bowl of honey nut cherrios and I’m out like a light. Do a little wake up calisthenics and I’m ready for the day.
It sounds like a lot but it really isn’t. You’re still going to be tired every once in a while, that’s just the way it is.
Sometimes I don’t salt my food enough, So, I eat a bag of salt and vinegar to raise my blood pressure and get my heart rate up. Ritz Baked Chips/Crackers really help. They have a lot of salt in them. Oh, yeah the reason I need so much salt is because I drink so much water. I have water bottle that holds all of your 8 glasses for the day. It’s nice and easy with no counting glasses involved.
Hi, David! That’s great advice and I hope that any young people reading your words will take it to heart.
Who better to take fitness advice from than a soldier?
You’re definitely right about your approach - especially all the water, fruit juice and Vitamin. I wish I could wake up early and do calisthenics - I’m sure I’d be a lot healthier for it. Lifting my coffee cup is the extent of my am exercise though, I’m afraid!
Thanks so much for commenting - take care!
Joi
My Pyhsical Education (sophmore year) is doing a study on people who drink energy drinks and those who don’t. i would’ve necver guessed my ‘bad’ habit WAS so bad! we timed people running the mile ‘the drinkers’ score was almost 50% worse then the ‘cleans’ so just know guys they really are bad for you!
Hi,Zoe!
What a very, very interesting statistic. Thank you SO MUCH for leaving the comment. Hopefully, there’ll be some people who’ll read your words and switch over to juice or water!
Thanks and best of luck with your schooling!
Joi
I drink a RedBull or a RockStar every morning with my breakfast - I get 7 hours of sleep a night, but the extra energy in the morning helps me to stay alert and awake through lectures.
It’s not the drink itself that’s causing the kid (Jennifer) to get bad grades - I’m getting A’s and B’s in my college classes and I have at least one drink a day. It’s the fact that she’s not sleeping at night. She should use the drinks to help boost her energy when she needs it, not to keep her awake just because “it’s cool.” I don’t think anyone younger than 17 really needs an energy drink at all, to be honest.
It’s also good for giving you 250% of your daily value of Vitamin B6.
Hi, Amber - you make some very good points. I can’t imagine a kid needing any extra energy, either.
Most of the ones I’ve known had more than enough! -Joi
I’ll admit, I drank a daily Red Bull for a few months last year and I learned that although I loved taste and it gave an energy boost (sometimes), I find natural foods and water to be a much better choice than some sugary concoction that’ll probably lead to other health problems.
I disagree, Amber. People [that I know] rarely drink energy drinks because “it’s cool.” (…) This year I’ve started drinking .5-2 energy drinks/night because of my massive workload. Sometimes, it’s just not a matter of budgeting your time, trying to “be cool” (what?), or anything other than the need to stay up multiple nights in a row to work. Vegetable juices, tea, and whatever else don’t do squat in that area.
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