Power Drinks: Should Your Child Drink Them? (continued)

Vitamin waters may look like a quick way to fill any nutrition gaps in your child's diet, but these nutrients can come from a healthy meal or snack, too. Also, they can provide too much of a good thing, particularly if your child already takes a daily multivitamin. Getting more than the recommended daily allowance of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful to a child's health. Keep in mind that the daily allowances listed on the label are recommendations for adults, not kids.

The best place for your child to get daily nutrients is from balanced meals. If you're concerned that your child isn't getting enough, talk to your child's doctor, who may recommend a daily multivitamin formulated for kids.

Energy Drinks

These are becoming increasingly popular with middle- and high-school students who are looking for a competitive edge. And while some energy drinks are clearly labeled as unsuitable for children, others are specifically marketed to kids as young as 4, promising boosts in energy and nutrition as well as enhanced athletic performance.

Most energy drinks deliver a stiff dose of sugar and caffeine — sometimes as much caffeine as in 1 to 3 cups of coffee. Too much sugar can put your child in the fast lane to the dentist's office and also contribute to weight gain. Excessive caffeine comes with its own set of problems — especially in younger kids, it can negatively affect attention and concentration.

Few studies have examined the effect of caffeine on children, but consider how you feel when you've had too much. Caffeine is indeed a stimulant — though a widely used and accepted one — and because children are smaller than adults and haven't yet developed a tolerance to it, its effects on them may be more pronounced. As in adults, too much caffeine can cause:

• jitteriness and nervousness
• upset stomach
• headaches
• difficulty concentrating
• difficulty sleeping
• frequent urination

Many of these drinks also contain additional ingredients whose safety or effectiveness has never been tested in children — including herbal supplements, guarana (a source of caffeine), and taurine (an amino acid thought to enhance performance).

The bottom line is this: Energy drinks offer no real health or performance benefit for kids. Children who participate in sports should learn that they can improve their game through hard work and practice — values that will serve them well both on and off the field. Encouraging kids to believe that they need something "extra" to perform at their best is a slippery slope that may lead to the use of other performance-enhancing substances.

Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be critical when reading labels, and talk to your child's doctor if you have any questions or concerns. And teach your child not to be so quick to believe the hype when it comes to power drinks. For athletes and non-athletes alike, nothing beats a well-balanced diet. Most kids who eat well, stay hydrated, and get enough physical activity and rest will have plenty of energy — naturally.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: April 2008