Did you know that energy drinks should not be consumed by children and teenagers? JThese types of drinks contain substances that can cause various health problems, ranging from indigestion, insomnia, seizures, to heart problems.
Energy drinks are non-alcoholic drinks that are claimed to increase stamina and body energy. For healthy adults, this drink is relatively safe if consumed within reasonable limits or not excessive. But for children, consuming energy drinks can have bad effects on health.
Ingredients in Energy Drinks Are Dangerous
Most energy drinks are carbonated drinks or sodas with a high caffeine content.
Caffeine is a stimulant substance that can stimulate the brain to be more active and make people who consume caffeine more awake and energetic. In addition to caffeine, energy drinks also contain additional stimulants that function like caffeine, such as taurine, L-carnitine, and guarana.
Not only does it contain caffeine and other additives, the high sugar content in energy drinks is also dangerous for children. Besides being able to give a "collective" effect, the high sugar content in energy drinks can also damage children's teeth and cause children to be overweight (obesity).
So far there is no benchmark for how many doses of caffeine are safe for children to consume. Therefore, most doctors and health experts recommend limiting or even avoiding giving caffeine to children.
Dangers of Energy Drink Consumption in Children
If consumed too often or too much, energy drinks are at risk of causing several health problems in children, such as:
- Headache.
- Digestive disorders, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting.
- Nervous.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia.
- Frequent urination.
- High blood pressure.
- Heart problems, such as heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) and heart failure.
- Dehydration.
- Convulsions.
- Damage to organs, such as the kidneys and liver.
- Electrolyte disturbance.
- Hard to breathe.
According to a number of reports, cases of death in children and adults due to consuming energy drinks have occurred quite a lot. Therefore, considering the dangers that can occur, children should not be allowed to consume energy drinks too often.
If your child is used to consuming energy drinks, then parents need to help their child break the habit. The trick is to pay attention to their diet, including what children eat or drink when they snack.
In addition, parents and other family members can set a good example by not consuming energy drinks in front of children.
Instead of giving energy drinks, get your child used to consuming healthy drinks, such as water, infused water, coconut water, juice, unsweetened and low-fat milk, or herbal teas, such as tea chamomile.
