The ongoing row over several branded health drinks which moms have been trusting for decades has made us think, are we feeding our kids the right kind of food?Although the majority of brands advertise these products as "energy and vitamin-rich drinks," but on the other hand they dont mention the heavy quantity of sugar used in them which can be very harmful for kids, says Dr Saurabh Khanna, Lead Consultant, Neonatology and Pediatrics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.These products are promoted as immunity boosters and make tall claims that these will help kids in growing tall and strong, he says and adds, but in reality, energy drinks and such health drinks cannot increase immunity; this can be only done by immunisations / vaccinations.What are the ingredients parents should check before buying them?Dr Khanna explains: As per the recommendation of the nutritionist or pediatrician depending on the condition or deficiency of a particular nutrient which otherwise is unavailable to the child through dietary intake, one may be recommended the supplements (through energy drinks).

Parents should look out for high sugar content in the drink. Proteins, vitamins, minerals, DHA etc are certain ingredients which help in overall growth of the child, and should be used only for a short while until the child starts taking these through their diet.

Natural alternatives for kids other than health drinks

What are the complications likely to come when these drinks are given to kids regularly?

Dr Khanna highlights three important complications that might arise when such health drinks are regularly fed to a child.

These drinks include a lot of processed sugars, and excessive intake of these on a regular basis might raise the risk of diabetes and obesity in kids, he adds.

As per Unicef's World Obesity Atlas for 2022, India is likely to be home to 27 million obese kids by 2030. It currently ranks 99 out of 183 countries in terms of handling the economic impact of obesity.

Children who skip meals and miss out on the nutrients they need may feel full after drinking these drinks, which might have an impact on their growth and development. Kids can also get addicted to sweet and chocolate flavors of these drinks if consumed on a regular basis, explains Dr Khanna.

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The unhealthy side of health drinks - Indiatimes.com