MONDAY, May 30 (HealthDay News) — Although sports drinks and energy
drinks are marketed heavily toward children and teens, a leading
association of pediatricians is sounding the alarm about these beverages
for kids.
Young children and teens should avoid energy drinks entirely, the
American Academy of Pediatrics said in a report issued Monday, and routine
consumption of sports drinks should be limited or eliminated.
“There’s no place for energy drinks for kids,” said report co-author
Dr. Marcie Beth Schneider, an adolescent physician in Greenwich, Conn.
“There’s a place for sports drinks, but that place is very specific.”
Energy drinks include such popular brands as Red Bull, AMP and Rockstar
and tend to be heavily caffeinated, potentially having several times the
level of caffeine found in a cup of coffee. Manufacturers often add sugar
and herbal stimulants such as guarana and taurine to the drinks, which are
popular among kids.
The caffeine and herbal
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