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Written by Susan McCreadie, MD   

Nature’s REAL drink is water, pure fresh water. It's essential for your child's health - he or she is two-thirds water! You cannot beat the health benefit of water. Yes, it can boring! So, what about juice? Fresh RAW juice is REAL - and the more vegetables the better! But, most children consume pasteurized fruit juice - where the life giving enzymes and phytonutrients have been destroyed. Leaving mainly sugar with a splash of vitamin C. 100% REAL fruit juice (no added sugar, no high-fructose corn syrup, colorings, or dyes) as a treat is fine. That's a treat (once a week or less), not a staple (everyday)! 


"But, what if I water down the juice, then is juice okay?" My answer is still no. Sugar reduces the ability of the white blood cells to kill germs. This immune suppressing effect can start within 30 minutes and last for up to 5 hours. So giving your child (even watered down) juice throughout the day is suppressing their immune system the entire day! If you’ve found yourself in this trap, dig yourself out fast. You’ll find your child will be happier and healthier, and more likely an adventurous eater without his/her taste buds always preferring sweet. A great juice alternative is adding a slice of orange, lemon, lime, strawberry or apple to water. It adds flavor without all the sugar. 

Pop and sports drinks present the same problem - too much sugar. They're often loaded with artificial colors and flavors, which spells double trouble. Pop has even been shown to rob calcium from the bones![1]

So what about milk? Dairy is a powerful protein and provides calcium - an essential mineral for your child. Unfortunately drinking milk does not equate with strong bones. You may not realize that the countries who consume the most dairy, including the US, have the highest rates of osteoporosis.
 
“The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.” ~ Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C.

In fact, Harvard Medical School studied over 70,000 nurses for 12 years and the ones who drank the most milk had the most hip fractures – a sign of osteoporosis.[2] Even a 2005 review published in Pediatrics showed that milk consumption does not improve bone integrity in children.[3] So while the dairy industry has spent billions of dollars convincing us to drink milk [Got Milk?], these studies show it's not the best solution for building strong bones. Plus, many children are allergic or sensitive to dairy and when they remove it from their diet, their recurrent ear infections, sinus infections, and/or digestive problems resolve. REAL milk is raw milk - see What about Milk for more details. 
 
Here are some Healthy Drink Ideas:
  • Water! - This is the most important beverage to consume. If you're thirsty, you're dehydrated. Your body is roughly two-thirds water, and your child should drink roughly half their weight in water. See our Water Chart for more details.
  • Smoothies - Blend organic yogurt, blueberries and some honey for sweetness. Throw in some flax, chia or hemp seeds for essential fatty acids.
  • Herbal Teas – Stick to organic, decaffeinated versions. 
  • Healthy Lemonade – Buy some lemons or a bottle of lemon juice, add water and put in a little Stevia to taste. Voila!
Pure clean water is nature's best drink! But who doesn't crave a bit of flavor from time to time? Check out REAL Drinks for more creative ideas from Chef Jackie. Peanut Butter Monkey anyone?  or Mocha Mama? Two ways to make Hot Chocolate, one way without any sugar! She even whips up Citrus Soda and Ginger Ale! Among our favorites are the endless ways to make Flavored Water - so tasty and fun with all the different combinations. Never a dull moment. 
 

 

Susan McCreadie, MD is a Holistic Pediatrician and co-founder of nourishMD. She shows parents how to find REAL health for their child, so they can stop treating their child's symptoms and instead find solutions that help their child heal from the inside out.

Sources: 
1. Lu, C. et al. Organic Diets Significantly Lower Children's Dietary Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2006;114(2):260-3
2. Feskanich, D. et al. Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. Vol. 77, No. 2, 504-511
3. Lanou AJ, Berkow SE, Barnard ND. Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: a reevaluation of the evidence. Pediatrics. 2005;115(3):736-743.