Are Health Drinks Necessary For Children?

Are health drinks really necessary for the growth and development of children? Read on to find about the pros and cons of including health drinks in your child’s diet.Nowadays, life has become extremely hectic for both adults and children where nutrition and recreation seem to have taken a backseat. Adequate nourishment as found in a balanced diet is ignored by them, which leads to poor concentration and less performance in extracurricular activities in addition to academics.However, due to the availability of soft drinks, children develop a habit of them. On the other hand, the need for health drinks has evolved into a big debate these days. Such health drinks, as introduced by various companies, claim to compensate for the lost amount of nutrients and make your children grow stronger and sharper. In this articleHelps to Enjoy Milk in its Natural FormRequired Amount of Vitamins and Minerals are PresentBoosts Child’s Energy and Improves PerformanceNutritional Facts are Often HiddenIt is Not a Substitute for a Balanced DietHelps to Enjoy Milk in its Natural FormHealth drinks are recommended for children even if they consume the required amount of nutrients so as to give their health an extra boost. Milk is a natural source of nutrition and the richest source of protein, and can be enjoyed just by itself. However, if your child is a fussy eater or does not like milk, health drinks can be used to disguise the taste which does not affect its nutrition levels.Required Amount of Vitamins and Minerals are PresentIn addition to protein and calcium, health drinks also contain iron, pantothenic acid, antioxidants, vitamin E and others claiming to prevent anaemia, as well as releasing energy and protecting the immune system. However, not all brands contain the same amount of nutrients to suffice for your child, so it is very important to choose the most suitable health drink.Boosts Child’s Energy and Improves PerformanceWhile children’s dieticians think health drinks are a good option if the child has not been performing well in academics, sports or in other activities, but they are not essential. In other cases, health drinks simply prove to be a method to add flavour to milk. The claims made by companies, though they differ on many levels, depend on the addition of DHA which constitutes for the mental development of the child. Though keeping the amount of formula restricted to twice a day might be helpful, frequent consumption of such drinks might be detrimental to health.However, though these drinks are extremely popular for children, many disadvantages arise out of such products as well. A proper evaluation must be made of these drinks so as to have a complete knowledge and enjoy the benefits of such health drinks. Some of the disadvantages include –Nutritional Facts are Often HiddenIn addition to containing some amounts of carbohydrates and proteins, health drinks also have moderate amounts of caffeine and a high sugar content to develop taste. These ingredients tend to affect children’s health levels at a young age and give rise to cavities. Moreover, accurate nutritional readings might not be given to increase the sale of a drink. They may also cause excessive weight gain if taken too frequently and no satisfaction is guaranteed.It is Not a Substitute for a Balanced DietThough health drinks are recommended to be served no more than twice a day, it is not a substitute for a wholesome diet. Instead, these commercially advertised goods could be replaced with much healthier and natural alternatives such as kanji with ragi or jowar mixed with jaggery and milk – these options are high in fibre, rich in minerals and proteins and have no side effects. Homemade smoothies, milkshakes and juices are also sources of extra nutrition which are cheaper and offer excellent results.Whether health drinks are beneficial for the child or not is something the parent and paediatrician should decide. Both ways, the health and all-round development of the child is of paramount importance and utmost care must be taken to ensure proper nutrition to ensure a healthy life ahead.What are the benefits of including health drinks in the diet of children? Can health drinks help to ensure overall growth and development of children? What are the side-effects of giving health drinks to children? Discuss here.