Health News
- Penny-per-ounce Tax On Sugar Drinks Could Save $17 Billion, Cut Consumption And Prevent Disease And Death, Academics Say
More than $17 billion in medical costs over 10 years could be saved if sugared drinks were taxed at 1 cent per ounce, and it would prevent 95,000 cases of coronary heart disease, 8,000 strokes and 26,000 premature deaths, say researchers at Columbia University...
- Most Beverage Companies Targeting Kids, Teens Even More To Sell Sugary Drinks, Despite Pledges; Pepsi An Exception
A study analyzing the marketing practices for 600 products made by 14 companies found there is more advertising of sugary drinks to children, despite industry pledges to the contrary. Child and teen exposure to TV ads for full-calorie soda doubled from...
- Teens Who Drink Sugary Beverages Add 300 Calories A Day To Their Diet, National Survey Finds
American teens who drink pop, energy drinks like Red Bull and other sugar-based beverages like Gatorade are consuming an average of 327 calories a day, the equivalent of two and a half cans of cola, according to an analysis conducted by the National Center...
- Downsize Those Sugary Drinks!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom It?s official ? Americans are drinking way too many sugary drinks. New results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) have documented some scary findings when it comes to consumption of sugary drinks....
- Fueling Your Workout
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom I?m often asked what?s the best way to keep your body fueled during exercise. The answer depends on both the intensity of your exercise as well as the duration of the activity. While many of us feel like professional athletes...
Health News
Teens don't need sports drinks unless they are playing sports, and shouldn't consume energy drinks, experts say
Though teens are increasingly consuming sports and energy drinks, the beverages don't offer them any benefits, a report contends. In fact, teens should only consume sports drinks like Gatorade if they're actually playing sports and avoid caffeinated energy drinks like Red Bull entirely, reports Alice Park of Time magazine's Healthland. "Water, not sports drinks, should be the major source of hydration for adolescents," said Dr. Marcie Schneider said.
The report was compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Nutrition and its Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. 
It found many teens consume sports drinks (Getty Images photo) in the school cafeteria, in part because sodas are increasingly being taken out of school vending machines. Sports drinks have extra carbohydrates and electrolytes, which can be beneficial after intense workout sessions. "But outside that setting ? and honestly most of our teens and children are way outside that setting ? they don't need sports drinks," Schneider said. The extra carbs are just extra calories. They also can erode enamel from teeth and cause dental problems.
It found many teens consume sports drinks (Getty Images photo) in the school cafeteria, in part because sodas are increasingly being taken out of school vending machines. Sports drinks have extra carbohydrates and electrolytes, which can be beneficial after intense workout sessions. "But outside that setting ? and honestly most of our teens and children are way outside that setting ? they don't need sports drinks," Schneider said. The extra carbs are just extra calories. They also can erode enamel from teeth and cause dental problems.Energy drinks are similar to sports drinks, but have the added ingredient of caffeine, which kids also don't need. "We know that caffeine raises heart rate, blood pressure, speech rates and motor activity, and affects how much acid your stomach secretes, your body temperature and how much you sleep or don't sleep" Schneider said. These drinks can make children who are already anxious have more anxiety and rev up kids with attention deficity hyperactivity disorder even more. "Do these kids really need caffeine as part of their lives? The answer is no." (Read more)
- Penny-per-ounce Tax On Sugar Drinks Could Save $17 Billion, Cut Consumption And Prevent Disease And Death, Academics Say
More than $17 billion in medical costs over 10 years could be saved if sugared drinks were taxed at 1 cent per ounce, and it would prevent 95,000 cases of coronary heart disease, 8,000 strokes and 26,000 premature deaths, say researchers at Columbia University...
- Most Beverage Companies Targeting Kids, Teens Even More To Sell Sugary Drinks, Despite Pledges; Pepsi An Exception
A study analyzing the marketing practices for 600 products made by 14 companies found there is more advertising of sugary drinks to children, despite industry pledges to the contrary. Child and teen exposure to TV ads for full-calorie soda doubled from...
- Teens Who Drink Sugary Beverages Add 300 Calories A Day To Their Diet, National Survey Finds
American teens who drink pop, energy drinks like Red Bull and other sugar-based beverages like Gatorade are consuming an average of 327 calories a day, the equivalent of two and a half cans of cola, according to an analysis conducted by the National Center...
- Downsize Those Sugary Drinks!
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom It?s official ? Americans are drinking way too many sugary drinks. New results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) have documented some scary findings when it comes to consumption of sugary drinks....
- Fueling Your Workout
by Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom I?m often asked what?s the best way to keep your body fueled during exercise. The answer depends on both the intensity of your exercise as well as the duration of the activity. While many of us feel like professional athletes...