Energy drinks and sports drinks are quite the rave. Kids use them, thinking the sometimes hyped-up benefits outweigh the risks, but not so. These drinks are coming under much scrutiny these days, and for good reason.

Dr. John Higgins, associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, says that caffeine and other compounds typically found in energy drinks may have an adverse effect on the heart. "What you have is a situation where your heart rate and blood pressure go up, and the heart would need to dilate those arteries because it's working harder, but instead it's impaired - they don't dilate. It's sluggish, slower," he said.

Meanwhile (according to LiveScience.com, paraphrasing Dr. Higgins), "the caffeine also can cause a release of calcium in heart cells, affecting the electrical signaling that regulates the heartbeat and triggering an arrhythmia. And there's evidence suggesting the drinks disrupt the normal balance of salts in the body. Changes in sodium or potassium levels also may be linked with arrhythmias, Higgins said."

Energy drinks should not be consumed by children. The younger or smaller the child, the more they consume, or if there are certain health challenges, it could be particularly dangerous - even fatal. According to Dr. Higgins, "These are drugs - they are chemicals - and we don't know much about their interactions."

According to Dr. Steven Lipshultz, professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, "there is no safe dose" of these drinks. He also said that children or teens can show adverse effects of the caffeine after they have consumed only one or two of these drinks. He went on to say that "a lot of developing organs are more sensitive to chemicals than adult organs are, but more research is needed to know whether this is the case with energy drinks."

According to Dr. Marcie Schneider and Holly Benjamin of American Academy of Pediatrics, "Rigorous review and analysis of the literature reveal that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents." I couldn't agree more.

Dr. Lipshultz stated, "We were in a position of saying we didn't see a therapeutic benefit...and we saw evidence of real side effects and toxicities. We discouraged the use in children, adolescents and young adults."

In the May/June 2012 issue of General Dentistry, the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, they cite that the high acidity levels in energy and sports drinks erode tooth enamel and cause irreversible damage to teeth. They cite that the effect was evident just five days after exposure to the drinks, with energy drinks causing more damage than sports drinks.

Other harms linked to energy drinks include increase in miscarriages, increased risk of alcohol injury and dependence (when consumed together with alcohol), increased risk of drug abuse, impaired cognition and more.

Energy drinks should not be consumed by children - or really, adults either!

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. She can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.