Sports Drinks – Do you or your Kids Need Them?
The Truth About Sports Drinks
Electrolytes
It’s what we all need when we work out, run, play soccer, football, or base ball. Right? NOT REALLY!!. Unless we are doing marathons or full triathalons, electrolyte replacement is not needed. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatricians recommend that for almost all sports activities water is the preferred form of hydration. Sports drinks are over marketed, over hyped and over used in sports.
Sports drinks are only recommended for prolonged sporting events
Almost all youth sports are not considered prolonged sporting events.
Sports drinks contain a lot of sugar!
Sugar promotes decay. Some well meaning parents and coaches think that sports drinks are ‘healthy’ and won’t cause decay like soda. Unfortunately sports drinks do cause decay……a lot of decay. Avoid them.
What can you do?
- As a parent – take bottled water when you are responsible for ‘treats’ after the game. Combine with a snack that does not promote decay such and individual packets of nuts, apples, bananas, mandarin oranges, or xylitol mints.
- As an athlete – don’t fall prey to the hype. Just put water in your water bottle. Need potassium? – eat a banana instead.