Unless Your Kid Is In An Extreme Athlete Playing In A Heat Wave, Lay Off The Gatorade

New research suggests kids actually don’t need sports and energy drinks to function. A study in Pediatrics says:

Given the current epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity, we recommend the elimination of calorie-containing beverages from a well-balanced diet, with the exception of low-fat or fat-free milk, because it contains calcium and vitamin D, which are particularly important for young people.

The report says the caffeine found in energy drinks could be harmful to kids, but child athletes may benefit from an occasional sports drink when they’ve spent a long time on a hot, humid field. This news may go over better with kids if scientists can get pro athletes to douse their coaches in low-fat milk.