I've just gone on a rant on our Facebook page after reading
about a backlash against the proliferation of energy drink
sponsorship in 'extreme sports' targeting the kids and teenage
markets with products that are extremely bad for them. The
rant was prompted by this article which filled me with joy,
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/sports/
pro-water-in-snowboarding-culture-heavy-on-energy-drinks.html?_r=2&ref=sports
Here is what I wrote on Facebook, check it out to leave your
comments at our Facebook page.
This is a really positive step. Although energy drink co's
do pump lots of money into 'minority sports' and 'extreme sports'
you'd have to be pretty accepting to not see it as a simple and
cynical way to hit the teenage market. 'Energy drinks' have
crept fairly unregulated into mainstream conscience and are now
very easily available. Make no mistake, they are EXTREMELY
bad for you, packed with sugar, caffeine and highly
addictive. We have witnessed first hand the marked change in
behaviour in kids when they drink them, unsurprisingly they go a
bit nuts, full of unneeded stimulants. We know lots of top
athletes, none of whom would go near energy drinks, even just the
sugar filled 'isotonic' ones. If you really are exercising
long enough to justify using them (at least an hour) then you can
save a fortune by adding a pinch of salt and sugar to plain water,
flavour with your favourite cordial and that will keep your body
going. From experience we know that you can train up to ten
hours straight in hot conditions without using any energy drinks,
just the aforementioned combination and some solid food. Few
things make us sadder than seeing kids drinking a huge bottle
of energy drink or seeing the state of people who can't start
a days work without them. That is not a healthy way to be, it
is an addiction which will affect your general health, ability to
sleep, ability to concentrate, heart rate and will ultimately lead
to the numerous physical and mental health issues attached to
excessive sugar and caffeine intake. Rant over, food for
thought!
