uMhlanga dietician unpacks the latest ‘buzz drink’
Should you give it to your child? Certainly not, says the dietician.
ABOUT three weeks ago, South African teen and tweens went crazy over a hydration drink called Prime.
Queues formed to buy the energy drink, which is endorsed by two famous YouTube content creators.
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A week later, school governing bodies called for the drink to be banned in schools that claimed that the drink contains way too much caffeine.
But, isn’t this like any other energy drink that our children have been consuming for decades?
uMhlanga dietician Elmari Carelse took a look at the contents of the drink and even downed one. Here’s her professional opinion on the drink.
“There are two different types – one labelled Hydration and the other, Energy. The creators claim that both are suitable to be used in sport. I found the energy version contains too much caffeine,” she said.
The Hydration version, she said, is ‘very sweet’ because it is packed with artificial sweetener, something consumers must be wary of.
“Sucralose causes digestive issues and upsets the microbiome of the gut. If you have irritable bowel syndrome, this drink may cause diarrhoea, bloating and the like,” said Carelse.
The positive is that the drink is low in calories compared to other energy drinks, low in carbohydrates and low in fat.
It contains electrolytes and added vitamins as well as amino acids which are essential for recovery and performance.
“Electrolytes are full of potassium which is something you can get from eating a banana. A banana is a much healthier option. Electrolyte supplementation, which isn’t really the end of the world because the body can clear it out naturally, but it should only be administered by a medical professional in cases of extreme dehydration. Water is good enough for hydration,” she said.
Should you give it to your child? “Certainly not”, says the dietician.
“Prime Energy contains a caffeine content of 300mg. The recommended daily allowance for caffeine for children is 200mg,” she added.
The drink also contains double the dose of vitamins A and E for children in the nine-to 13-year age group.
“Overdosing on vitamin A and E can cause toxicity in the body. This may bring on headaches, nausea, runny tummy, problems with coordination and so forth,” said Carelse.
If your child must consume Prime, she recommends that you don’t let them drink it all at once.
“There is nothing healthier than giving your child whole foods to consume. A well-balanced diet may not necessarily call for substitution and supplementation of vitamins. Your children watch what you eat. It’s easier for them to follow a healthy diet if you follow one yourself,” she said.
She said her professional opinion was that Prime is not a sports drink.
Sports drinks have easily digestible carbs which are used for energy. Prime does not have it. I agree that it’s an electrolyte replacement but not a sports drink,” she said.
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