Summary

--SUPERS-- Dr Jennifer Shu, Pediatrician :22-:32 :38-:49 :56-1:00 1:05-1:20 --LEAD-IN-- ITS NOT SECRET THAT DRINKING TOO MUCH CAFFEINE CAN BE BAD FOR YOU SOME PARENTS FIND THEMSELVES CALLING POISON CONTROL, AFTER THEIR KIDS HAD TOO MUCH OF ENERGY DRINKS THE AGE OF MANY OF THOSE KIDS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU HOLLY FIRFER EXPLAINS IN TODAYS HEALTH MINUTE --REPORTER PKG AS FOLLOWS-- ENERGY DRINKS - THEYRE CHEAP, HIGH-OCTANE, AND READILY AVAILABLE IN STORES… MAYBE TOO READILY AVAILABLE… A RECENT STUDY FOUND THAT OVER 40% OF ALL ENERGY DRINK-RELATED CALLS TO POISON CONTROL CENTERS IN THE U-S WERE FOR KIDS UNDER 6 - MANY OF THEM SUFFERING SERIOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM AND HEART SYMPTOMS (SOT Dr Jennifer Shu, Pediatrician) A can or a bottle of an energy drink could have as much as 500mg of caffeine which is equal to about 14 cans of soda So way higher than youd want a child to have DR SHU SAYS THE DANGERS OF OVER-CONSUMPTION FOR KIDS, AND EVEN ADULTS VARIES FROM THE MINOR (SOT, Dr Jennifer Shu, Pediatrician) As simple as headaches or some shakiness or jitteriness but they could even be more serious like problems with your heart rhythm, where your heart is irregular, it beats too fast or even seizures BUT ITS NOT JUST THE CAFFEINE AND OTHER STIMULANTS RAISING CONCERNS THE DRINKS ARE ALSO OFTEN FILLED WITH SUGAR (SOT,Dr Jennifer Shu, Pediatrician) Too much of that sugar can cause weight gain as well as cavities IN GENERAL, DR SHU SAYS -- ITS BEST TO KEEP KIDS AWAY FROM ANYTHING BUT THE BASICS (SOT, Dr Jennifer Shu, Pediatrician) For the most part, all of the fluid your body needs can be found in water, in milk and some 100% fruit juice You really dont need whats marketed as sports drinks with electrolytes unless youre doing some really vigorous physical exercise FOR TODAYS HEALTH MINUTE, IM HOLLY FIRFER --KEYWORD TAGS-- SUMMER HEALTHY CHILDREN BEVERAGES