Kids are influenced by the environment around them and do not pay much attention to their parents. But, it’s our fundamental duty to inform them about the possible health risk of energy drinks and the standard way of consuming an energy drink. As per a survey, 30%-50% of young adults agree that they consume energy drinks regularly. Every product has its nutritional value and health risks which young adults must be aware of them.
Let’s know what to tell your kids about energy drinks:
Help them to make an informed decision
Teens often neglect their parent’s suggestions. Most teenagers are attracted to something which is easily forbidden without good reason. Tell them politely why you want them to cut energy drinks. Tell them the possible health risks of consuming excess energy drinks and what are the possible health risks. Generally, teenagers are affected by their friend’s environment and consume most energy drinks in their parents’ absence. They don’t see any direct or instant health risk and it encourages them to drink an energy drink. Give them option like Mate Mate energy drink which has just 30mg caffeine per 100ml and low sugar of 6mg per 100ml to be safe for health.
Appeal to self-interest
Teens are often concerned about their personal life and look. They have a positioning in mind that drinking high caffeine energy drink does harmful to them if they look cool outside. You can take advantage of this self-obsession. Tell them that caffeine can lead to panic attacks and bowls irritability. Energy drink manufacturers are trying to make their products “cool”. But there is nothing cool about spending time in the locked bathroom and crying in the corner. At least you can be aware they drink low caffeine energy drinks and they will listen to it.
Use Peer Pressure
Energy drinks manufacturer uses peer groups’ pressure to sell their products. They sponsored or organized sporting events or any music concert where your kids’ peer groups are there and are influenced by them to have an energy drink. You can use the same method and can organize a get-together with your kid’s friend’s family members and make them understand the right selection of energy drinks and the possible health risks of excessive consumption. Your kids are more likely to follow the tips due to peer pressure and it will take a few people to create a tipping point.
Be prepared for arguments
They may argue that “You never stop them drink Gatorade” but tell them that sports drinks and energy drinks are different and sports drinks replace minerals and lost fluid whereas energy drinks have a high amount of caffeine and sugar levels. They can argue that nobody died from energy drinks. Tell them there is clinical evidence of several deaths due to high consumption of energy drinks. Also, guarana and taurine are good only in small amounts. Tell them you don’t need to add alcohol to your energy drink, you don’t add seven teaspoons of sugar to your coffee, and you don’t chill it to drink it faster. Tell them you don’t follow the three same.
The laws for an energy drink for young people
Currently, there are no laws for young people to buy energy drinks. People under the age of 16 years don’t need an ID to buy an energy drink. Also, there is no limit on the number of energy drinks for young people to buy them. Despite this, most shop owners will deny kids less than 16 years of age from consuming an energy drink. There have been several campaigns run by the government to ban the sale of energy drinks to children and this question is still under consultation.
Fear of diseases
The consumption of energy drinks is always questionable for kids. It happens due to the caffeine amount in the energy drink which varies from 100mg-250mg of caffeine depending on the type of brand. Kids are more prone to different diseases such as insomnia, hyperactivity, abnormal heartbeat, headache, incontinence, anxiety, and inability to concentrate, stress etc. You can make your kids understand that energy drinks are not safe for them and you can impact your health at anytime.
Conclusion
Remember that you cannot force your kids to leave energy drinks. You can encourage them to use healthy alternatives like Mate Mate which have low caffeine and low sugar content. It will inspire them to consume less caffeine. You can also tell those fruits, juice, beans, nuts, and green vegetables are healthy alternatives to energy drinks. Make green smoothies for the breakfast, serve nutritional food in their meals and lots of water drinking habits can bring healthy changes in their life which can give you a sense of satisfaction and can save your children from the dangers of high caffeinated energy drinks.
