Buzzed kids – who thought this was a good idea?

Where are your kids getting their energy from these days? Street hockey? Baseball at the park? Just as digital calisthenics have replaced fresh air sports, energy drinks are finding their way into our kids’ hands at an alarming rate.

In 1999, more than a decade after video games overtook outdoor sports, 73% of kids and teens named soda as their primary buzz-me-up source. Another decade later and kids have switched from soda to energy drinks. What’s most alarming about this trend is the amount of caffeine packed into energy drinks – some have four times the caffeine content as soda.

Now don’t get us wrong – we’re not promoting soda as the after-school beverage of choice – and we’d still rather see them outside than playing video games. We believe the best way to jazz up an afternoon is with a good night’s sleep. But if energy drinks are the new go-to beverage, interrupted sleep patterns, obesity and hypertension are just a few of the risks they’ll face as they age.

The big lie of energy drinks

Kids turn to energy drinks for the same reason we guzzle coffee in the morning – more energy, faster. Trouble is, the caffeine doesn’t deliver energy as much as it jolts the body, kind of like a defibrillator. You might get a rush for a few minutes but it’s a short term fix and hard on the body.

“Children most at risk appear to be those who regularly consume the increasingly popular caffeine-laden energy drinks or gulp down a relatively large amount of the liquid in a short span, according ScienceDaily.com. “Caffeine levels in drinks such as Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar range upwards to 242 milligrams per serving (most are sold in a double serving). By comparison, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams.”

 So what’s a parent to do?

If your child is opting for an energy drink rather than a good night’s sleep? Start by setting some family sleep rules – and follow them yourself. From there, try these ideas on for size:

1. Get outside – with your kids

A work week is 40 hours (60 if you’re an over-achiever), which leaves 128 hours for sleep, chores and everything else you do. If you can’t fit an hour of physical activity in each day, something in your schedule is hogging your valuable time. Why is exercise important to sleep better and overall health? Think of sleep as the fuel that allows you to do more during the day. If you’re not moving enough, you’re not going to be tired enough to sleep. If you’re not tired enough to sleep, you won’t feel motivated to exercise. See the problem?

Once you figure out the time thing, you’ll be enjoying more outside time with your kids – and teaching them the importance of healthy family time.

2. Eat better – together

To stay healthy we need a daily intake of more than 40 different vitamins and minerals. Since you can’t get all that goodness from one source, variety is important.

“Besides appreciation for the value of food and the work that goes into preparing it, the dinner table can be the perfect environment where kids learn how to conduct conversations, observe good manners, serve others, listen, solve conflicts and compromise,” reports the Huffington Post.

3. Drink more water – instead of anything else

Think of water as a natural energy drink – we need it as much as we need sleep and good nutrition. Dehydration can make us feel listless and reach for that energy drink – which dehydrates even more. If you don’t think your child is drinking enough, a quick light pinch of skin on his or her hand will tell you immediately. If the skin doesn’t resume a smooth appearance immediately, s/he may be mildly dehydrated.

Ready to make sleep a family priority? We’d love to hear what you’ll change or what you’re already doing that’s working well. Share in the comments below or give us a shout on social media!

This blog was originally published on Restonic.com and does not provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on mattresdepotusa.com. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.