To not give my child energy drinks...

[Stressedtothehilt]

My dd1 is 9 and partakes in a competitive team sport that is predominantly boys only. She also does martial arts. It seems that many children in the team sports are given energy drinks ie powerade and lucozade sport. Dd has always taken water, she likes it and I've never thought any different.

However at training one evening another child commented to their parent that Mini Hilt only had water to drink and that she should have powerade when running around. Childs father nodded quietly and said nothing. Dd quite able to stick up for herself told child that water will rehydrate her and stop her getting spots when she's older!!!!

Dd has county trials coming up that will be tough going and hard work, should I let her take an energy drink? Will it give her an energy boost if she's flagging??. I'm not sure as never used them! I was under the impression that under 16s shouldn't have these drinks at all although wasn't sure why.

Will be back to check replies later x

I watched a programme where they proved that drinking milk does more for the body than drinking energy drinks.

I personally think they are rank and loaded in sugar, so good on your dd

No need for small children I would have thought. I do distance running and I only take energy drinks if going out running for more than an hour. As I usually drink water in classes (even 2 hour ones) I find sports drinks disgustingly sweet. Only time I didn't was straight after London marathon. Stick to water. And maybe a banana for instant energy!

Thanks, I'm not overly keen on them myself nor on their price but it seems all their kids on her team take a least one or two bottles for a hour session! I wouldn't mind if it was an all day tournament but I'd still be a bit

I thought children were meant to have oooodles of energy anyway!

those aren't energy drinks, they are sports drinks.

They aren't harmful, but they aren't necessary.

My two ds's drink them them due to football and the training, Yes I initially believed the hype so bought them and all of their mates drink them too.

When I took them to the dentist once he told me what a load of rubbish energy drinks are and it's better to dilute some rehydration powder into them for the same effect.

We only use them for sporting activity but I don't know how effective they really are, my ds's do like them though.

Chocolate milk is what you need . Well, that's what we're told to give ds2 after lots of exercise (he has T1 diabetes). It's apparently the right combination of sugar, protein and fat to restock the glucose stores in the liver, after exercise.

The sugar in energy drinks is needed if you're doing so much exercise that you're going to use up all the stores of glucose in your liver during the exercise. I wouldn't have thought a 9yo was doing that level of exercise.

Patpig their websites still say not to be given to children under 16 though as some children have died of heart related issues after drinking them apparently.

Sandiego yes it's football she does, tbh I can't see that the kids that drink them have any more staying power than she does so quite a good test really.

Bertha she loves choc milk so may try that perfect :) she will be doing 2x2hours a week football then a match day and 1x2 hr a week martial arts

My DD is 8 and does lots of gymnastics.On a saturday she does 4.5 hours.
She takes water but also lucozade which she says is really good when they are doing bars work which requires lots of strength.It gives an almost instant energy hit.

Glucose tablets would probably cheaper if she did need the energy.

Bananas are good for energy usually but your digestion slows down when you're exercising so the energy doesn't get through to where its needed till its too late. She'd need to eat it before she started.

Just read lucozade sport one bottle of it has 8 teaspoons of sugar in it!!! Omg!!!! No way is she having that! Coc milk all the way!

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sport-products-that-claim-to-be-performance-enhancing-1149077

Bertha that's a good idea I forgot about the, glucose tablets they're a good idea thank you

'Just read lucozade sport one bottle of it has 8 teaspoons of sugar in it!!! '

but that's kind of the point!!

As part of my degree, we investigated the effect of energy drinks. They are rubbish. We read some scientific papers written about them and the statistics they place on the bottle (keeps you going 33% longer for example) are manipulated to tell the story they want - like most statistics. Water is far better.

Choc milk is a great recovery drink - and tastier than the 'proper' sports ones

My dh is an amateur boxer and trains a lot. He always has choc milk after training.

I don't understand teacherandguideleader If you need an energy boost , how is water better?

Choc milk is a great recovery drink but not too easy to digest while you are running etc I wouldn't have thought

sports drinks and energy drinks are two completely different things!

I am confused

There are the kind of 'energy drinks' like red bull which are full of caffeine.BUt Lucozade market their 'Lucozade sport' as a n energy drink

If the child has a healthy diet shouldn't really need an energy boost. Hydration is more important. Eg. Most people don't 'hit the wall' (run out of energy) until mile 20 in a marathon

They may contain sugar but water is far superior for rehydration. There is something about the sodium balance that makes water better for this if I remember correctly. I'd go for water every time to rehydrate, and glucose tablets if you need an energy boost.

I find them gross and they tend to give me umm...lose bowels shall we say. I don't see a need for children to have them, nor do I see a need for adults to have them when you think it's all sugar & how quick energy is released with sugar they tend to be shattered.

Chocolate milk gets very good press. My DH is a runner and martial arts teacher and recommends it.

Thanks teacher and pratchett will go for choc milk and glucose tablets if she needs more than water

bet the family had seen the stupid adverts where the drink is a million times better than water, blah blah tbh children really shouldnt be pepped up on locozade (sp) and a drink of water and maybe a bit of chocolate will do the same thing