Are Energy Drinks Worth the Added Energy?

When there are alternatives to giving kids energy before sports, should energy drinks even be considered?

It’s rare to see kids drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, and it’s known that too much soda is bad for the body.  So then the question arises:

Why are kids drinking energy drinks to give them a jolt before a sporting event? 

Recently it has come out that Monster Energy Drink is being investigated for playing a role in five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack since 2004.  This 24-ounce drink contains as much as 7 times the amount of caffeine that is in a regular can of soda, and while the added energy is something we might all wish we had on a regular basis, we have to wonder how safe it is for young children.

Energy drinks have been on the rise in recent years, but what happened to healthier alternatives?  Green tea has caffeine for a quick pick-me-up, and apples give you more nutritious fuel than coffee.   If there are serious health issues associated with drinking so much caffeine, where should we draw the line for young kids?

Check out this news article about the Monster Energy investigation

Here’s an articles for better energy foods and drinks for kids

And another article about the differences of apples vs. coffee