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C a f f e i n e Soft Drinks
The absolute worst of the caffeinated bunch, soft drinks a n d t h e A w a r e P a r e n t
are nothing more than carbonated, liquid candy bars. Would you allow your child, adolescent or teen to eat From toddlers to teens we need to be concerned ab three or four candy bars a day? Of course not, yet up to what choices our children are making when they’re 13 percent of the average teenager’s caloric intake in a thirsty. Even noncarbonated drinks, such as fruit drinks, day is from drinks (carbonated sodas, and non- ades, iced teas, etc., are adding empty calories to our carbonated sports, energy and juice drinks). Perhaps children’s diets every year. So, what are our children it’s no surprise that researchers in Massachusetts found a direct link between obesity and increased soft If you have a teen, it may be possible they already have a Starbucks addiction. Consider what your kids are consuming and make appropriate changes. It’s a Sports Drinks
Soft drinks are a problem for our children, not just for Lauded as the best way to re-hydrate, these drinks are what they’re adding to their diet but what they aren’t advertised as full of electrolytes and all “that an active leaving room for. What is your child not drinking body needs”. What they don’t tell you is that these because he or she is drinking a can of Coke or Pepsi? drinks contain high fructose corn syrup (sugar) and The child that reaches for a soft drink is not reaching for a glass of water to quench their thirst. Researchers at the University of Maryland exposed teeth enamel to a variety of sports beverages, including What is Caffeine?
energy drinks, fitness water and sports drinks. They found that the damage to the enamel was up to eleven Considered to be the most widely used drug in the times greater with the sports drinks than any other world, caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous refreshment because of the acid from the additives. system that causes increased heart rate and alertness. Caffeine is found in tea leaves, coffee beans, chocolate, most soft drinks, pain relievers and other Energy Drinks
Sports drinks on steroids, these are a drink of choice When taken in very moderate amounts many people for many teenagers. With late nights studying and feel that caffeine increases their mental alertness, but getting up early for school, often teenagers will reach higher doses of caffeine have been known to cause: for this canned “pick me up” to help them get through after-school activities and studies. Energy drink commercials are geared toward our youth, the magic potion that will give them the energy to get the job done, but at what expense to their health? For example, the Red Bull drink gets its energy-giving powers from a mixture of caffeine, taurine (an amino I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
acid) and a special sugar, glucuronolactone. That’s it, just caffeine, amino acids and sugar. 2007 The Wellness Family
In response to a growing concern they set forth the Caffeine is addictive and can cause withdrawal symptoms when consumption is abruptly halted. These can include but are not limited to: severe headaches, Juice should not be given to infants before they are muscle aches and temporary depression or irritability. • Children should not be given juice from bottles or What does this mean for the teenager reaching for the transportable covered cups that allow them to energy drink? Although he or she may think she’s doing a good thing, the caffeine is actually working against • Children should not be given fruit juice before bed the body. First, by increasing the need to urinate, which • Juice intake should be limited daily to leads to dehydration. Second, by causing the body to lose calcium and potassium, resulting in sore muscles and delayed recovery times after exercise. 8 to 12 oz for children 7 to 18 years old Considering the fact that a drinking glass holds at least Juice Drinks
12 oz., an average glass of 100% apple juice is the equivalent of three apples. What child needs to eat Fruit juices are better choices than sports or caffeinated three apples, much less in the space of ten minutes? drinks, but not much. The truth is that the majority of juices found in the average household are not actually While fruit juices are certainly a better choice than the 100% fruit juice but fruit drinks, with the worst culprit other options out there, the best choice is water with Fruit drinks are nothing more than water, sugar and artificial flavoring. They have little or no nutritional What can I do?
value; and yet, even the 100% fruit juices can be a Face it, most children don’t like drinking water and they aren’t going to be thrilled about giving up their sodas, The average baby bottle is 8 to 10 oz; ask yourself how sports drinks and juice. But there are a few things you many full bottles of juice you give your little one each can do to make this easier for them to accept. day? How many ounces of fruit juice is your little one 1. Take all sports drinks, soft drinks and fruit drinks out of your home, leaving only water and 100% fruit juice In a recent report, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that children are consuming too much fruit juice 2. If this seems too extreme, make it a point to go with your thirsty child to retrieve their refreshment. Then, “A 6-oz glass of fruit juice equals 1 fruit serving. don’t open the refrigerator asking, “What do you want Fruit juice offers no nutritional advantage over to drink?” But instead ask, “Would you like water or a glass of juice?” If they’ve already had their allotted whole fruit. In fact, fruit juice lacks the fiber of glass of juice for the day then don’t give them a whole fruit. Kilocalories for kilocalorie, fruit juice can be consumed more quickly than whole fruit.” choice, just hand them a glass of water. Dr. Borkhuis of CornerStone Chiropractic is dedicated to providing you with the absolute best in family wellness care and along with that dedication comes an understanding that an informed s wise decisions for their child. So, take a moment today to discuss your questions with your family wellness Chiropractor. CornerStone Chiropractic
at 1350 20th Avenue SW
Minot, ND 58701
701.852.2800
2007 The Wellness Family

Source: http://yourcornerstonechiro.com/clients/3921/documents/Caffeine.pdf