Getnourished Visit Store


  

  

Follow Us On
Home Articles REAL Food Toss It Out Sports Drinks
Sports Drinks Print E-mail
Sports drinks are sugar, water, and salt. Originally designed for athletes, the largest growing segment of the sports drink market are non-athletes, including children. Most sports drinks have between 13 and 19 grams of sugar [equivalent to 3 to 5 packets of sugar] per 8 oz serving! That means for the average 20 oz Gatorade, your child will drink 40 grams of sugar (or 10 sugar packets), along with some artificial colors and flavors. So most sports drinks are far from REAL.


Sugar in sports drinks 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. Unless you have a child who is exercising strenuously for at least 90 minutes or working out in extremely high heat, he probably does not need anything more than water and a small REAL food snack before and maybe after the activity.[1]  

"Frequent or excessive intake of caloric sports drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity in children and adolescents." [2]

If you feel your child needs to replace electrolytes, why not make your own sports drink? You can add 1 tablespoon of unrefined sea salt to a quart of diluted 100% juice. Or buy organic coconut juice which can be found in most grocery stores. You'll find the glucose, fructose, potassium and sodium found in sports drinks without all the fake food ingredients. These drinks still contain a good amount of sugar and are only suggested if your child is in need of electrolyte replacement.

The best way to stay hydrated is to drink water BEFORE, during and after exercise. Water is the best beverage for the majority of active children who are not working out strenuously or in high heat.

Sources: 

1.Sports and Energy Drinks. (2011, June). Kids Health. Retrieved January 3, 2012 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/sports_medicine_center/q_a/power_drinks.html
2.COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND THE COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS (2011, May). Clinical Report—Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate? Pediatrics Online, Retrieved on
January 3, 2012 from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/05/25/peds.2011-0965.abstract