11/06/2018 / By Zoey Sky
While adults rely on energy drinks to keep them going for school or work all-nighters, it might be wise to forbid your kids to drink them, at least until they’re much older.
Last month, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) released an official statement regarding energy drinks which was published in the college’s clinical review journal, Current Sports Medicine Reports.
The statement, titled: Energy Drinks: A Contemporary Issues Paper, includes “helpful guidance and warnings regarding these beverages because of the dangers they present to at-risk populations.”
These include children who can suffer from health conditions if they over-indulge in energy drinks. The irony is younger consumers are often the target of marketing efforts for these products.
Dr. John Higgins explains that energy drinks are very popular and their consumers belong to every sector of society, which is one reason why they released the recommendations. He adds that their review of the data concerning these products has revealed “excessive levels of caffeine” which can negatively affect the “cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine systems.” Energy drinks can also cause psychiatric symptoms.
Higgins expressed the need to take more measures to ensure the safety of children and adolescents, along with adults who have cardiovascular or other medical conditions.
Since energy drinks are highly caffeinated beverages, their ingredients usually include different “vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbal mixtures.” The goal of ACSM, the “global authority for sports medicine, exercise science, and the promotion of participant safety,” is to concentrate on promoting high performance, while also ensuring the safety of those who participate in athletics or in other forms of physical activity.
With the publication of these new recommendations, ACSM hopes to aid consumers so they can understand the risks linked to “rapid and excessive consumption” of energy drinks. (Related: Energy drinks: Are they safe for you and your kids?)
Higgins concludes that as long as energy drinks are consumed in moderation, they can offer “short-term, performance-enhancing effects.” But consumers need to learn about the “many potential adverse reactions that could have long-term effects” on their health. He believes that consumers, parents, physicians, athletic trainers, personal trainers, and coaches can all benefit from their recommendations.
ACSM’s primary recommendations revolve around four important sections:
If you want to give your kids an energy boost without offering them potentially harmful energy drinks, serve them these natural energy-boosting alternatives instead:
You can read more articles about other toxic products and how to avoid them at Toxins.news.
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Tagged Under: American College of Sports Medicine, caffeine, children's health, energy drinks, fitness, nutrition, safety, sports medicine, toxic ingredients, toxins