Energy drinks, which have become very popular with children and adolescents, often contain added sugars and large amounts of caffeine.
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Images Radevich Tatiana / Getty
Children and adolescents should mainly stick to natural water and milk and avoid drinks with added sugar, artificial sweeteners and caffeine. It is according to new recommendations Of a coalition of health and nutrition organizations, which come as very caught energy drinks remain popular among adolescents.
Recommendations for children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 are based on a review of the latest sciences and come from a collaboration of experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Académie de Nutrition and Dietetics, The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Mark Corkins, Chairman of the AAP nutrition committee, says that directives are necessary because “the data tell us that one of the main ways for Adding sugar In children, they are drinks. “”
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of new drinks sold with children and adolescents, said Megan LottDeputy director of Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who summoned the panel of experts.
These include mixed coffees and energy drinks. Energy drinks have become very popular among adolescents but often contain added sugars and Large quantities of caffeine.
“New research has shown us that even small quantities of caffeine can cause delayed sleep, an increase in depressive mood quantities and anxiety and other mental health problems that are really problematic for young adolescents” , explains Lott. There are also “case studies on children and adolescents who enter ERS who have had heart events due to too much caffeine”.
Some panel advice could surprise parents. For example, while plant -based milks have also become popular, the group of experts calls on children and adolescents to limit their contribution of these drinks unless they can drink cow’s milk due to allergies or other food restrictions. This is because most plant -based milks do not offer the same nutrition as cow’s milk, explains Corkins.
“Many of them have very little protein,” he said. “And in one way or another, people give them to their children thinking that they are an alternative to cow’s milk.” But in terms of nutrition, he says that many plants based on plants “are not even close”, so it is important to read nutrition labels.
Lott notes that many plant -based milks have added sugars and do not provide as much protein, vitamin D, calcium or riboflavine as cow’s milk. If parents choose these drinks for their children, “it is really important to work with a pediatrician or a dietitian to ensure that these nutrient deficits are encountered by other foods,” she said.
In a statement at NPR, Marjorie Mulhall, main policy director for Association of plant -based foodswrote: “We are respectfully in disagreement with the premise that plant -based milks should be limited according to nutritional comparisons with cow’s milk” and that such comparisons simplify a complex subject abroad.
“Certain vitamins in conventional dairy milk are added by fortification, similar to the way in which plant -based milks are fortified,” said Mulhall, adding: “Many plants based on plants offer excellent sources of protein, of calcium, vitamin D and other important nutrients that support the health and development of children.
As for the advice to avoid artificially sweet sodas and other drinks?
Lott says that there is not much research on the health impacts of non -sugar sweeteners in children and adolescents. But emerging research in adults suggest that these calorie sweeteners may not help maintain weight. She says that this evidence also shows potential harmful effects of long -term use, including a Increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Research also suggests that artificial sweeteners could affect the Intestinal microbiome.
“The reality is that there are just a lot of things that we don’t know about it,” says Lott. “And given this, the panel of experts was really convinced that children and adolescents should avoid drinking them until we know more about their long -term impacts.”
William Dermody, spokesperson for the American Beverage Association, underlines that “weak and calories sweeteners have been tried safe by regulatory organizations around the world”. In a written declaration at NPR, he noted that “these sweeteners are a useful tool to help people reduce sugar consumption and manage weight”. And he pointed out that member companies of the American Beverage Association, “do not market children or do not sell energy drinks in kindergarten schools in the 12th year”. And he said that companies voluntarily display the total quantity of caffeine in each box.
“Regarding children, we help parents make the best choices for their families,” wrote Dermody.
For parents looking for help to make these choices, Lott, research on healthy food, says that the new recommendations are “the stallion based on evidence”. Even exchanging a sweet drink per day for water, “or reducing the level of caffeinated drinks every day, is positive for the health of your child in the long term,” says Lott.
This story was published by Jane Greenhalgh.