Energy drinks: kick them off your team

Last Updated: February 23, 2009 1:39 PM  

Jennifer Gibson Minor Menu

Energy drinks have poured into the Canadian market and are making their way into the hands of child athletes everywhere.  Red Bull, Monster, Beaver Buzz, Tab.  There seems to be a new can on the shelf at your local grocery and convenience store everyday.

Through my professional sport nutrition practice, which includes working with hundreds of young developing athletes, I am starting to see an increase in how many kids are consuming these energy drinks.

The catchy marketing and targeted sponsorship in sport is having an impression on young athletes. Coaches have reported seeing kids as young as nine drinking them before practice as a pick-me-up because they are tired after school, with their parents sitting right by their side!

Child athletes are drinking them, even though there is a warning right on the label that states: "Not recommended for children".

What parents need to know is that even if they are not buying energy drinks themselves, young athletes are being exposed to and have easy access to them.

Lunch money is usually just enough for a can or two. Parents need to become more aware of what is in these products and how dangerous and unhealthy they are for young athletes.

Here are five common ingredients in energy drinks that don't make the cut.

1. Caffeine

• Caffeine consumption is not recommended in children. Caffeine is a drug and kids, like adults, can become addicted. It can also impair sleep, heart rate and contribute to dehydration.
  
• New research is investigating the effects of caffeine consumption on bone health and increased risk for osteoporosis. Kids are developing their bone mass/density until they are in their early 20's. They need to optimize and develop the bone they will have for the rest of their lives.

2. Sugar (lots of it!)  

• One can of Monster energy drink has 52g of it. That is a staggering 13 teaspoons of sugar.
  
•  Sugar is simply an empty calorie, which gives no added vitamins or minerals for health. It provides a short burst of energy, with much less staying power than high fibre carbohydrates.
  
•  In children, high sugar consumption can also lead to dental caries.

3. Herbs and Amino Acids

• Many drinks add guarana or kola nut which are herbal sources of caffeine, which the safety of use in children is unknown.
  
• Extra amino acids and other herbs like carnatine, tyrosine and ginseng are added for their reported  "energy" and "mental boosting" properties. In addition to little scientific evidence to support these claims, their safety of use in children is also unknown.

4. Carbonation

• For an athlete with a nervous stomach before playing, drinking a carbonated beverage can make matters worse by increasing gas production. 
  
•  A high consumption of carbonated drinks is not great for tooth health. 

5. Marketing as a Performance Enhancing Agent

• When child athletes consume an energy drink before a game with the hopes of performance enhancement, I think there are some damaging mental conversations that are starting to form. Think about the potential future behaviours that the drinks could be a gateway for:
        "I can be a better athlete if I take a supplement"
        "I can turn to a quick fix for fatigue instead of getting to the root of the problem  
        (which may be lack of sleep, poor nutrition or overtraining)"

For more information and background on energy drinks, visit Health Canada's website for an excellent overview:

Across Canada, sport teams, health professionals and schools are starting lobby groups to ban the sale of energy drinks to children and youth under 18. For the latest news on energy drinks, visit www.cbc.ca and search for "energy drinks".

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