hydration

Continued over-emphasis of "forced hydration" by coaches, athletic trainers and even physicians makes youngsters especially vulnerable to exercise-associated hyponatremia, says an expert on EAH.

Here are some "droplets" of information to enhance your water IQ, optimize water balance, and help your child feel and perform better in sports

How do you teach your children to enjoy hiking? Start early and make it fun! So says award-winning author, expert hiker and adventure planner Jeff Alt, who has lots of great advice about how to make sure you and the kids have a great time outdoors.

As any parent of a competitive age-group swimmer knows, an indoor pool tends to be a very hot and humid place even at the best of times. Pack in all the competitors and spectators at a day-long meet and the temperatures soar, with athletes in or around the pool losing fluids at a high rate.  Practices for competitive swimmers also tend to last a long time, during which athletes not only burn a lot of calories but lose a lot of water and electrolytes.

Virginia has become the first state in the nation to ban the use of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar by student-athletes during high school football games and practices.

Dr. Lindsay Baker, a senior scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute answers a few frequently asked questions about   why it is important for young athletes to stay hydrated and consume carbohydrates so they are healthy, safe and have an athletic edge.

 

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Today's sports moms do much more than juggle schedules and drive athletes to and from games. Moms are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that their kids are well-rested, well-nourished, well-hydrated and mentally prepared to perform at their best, both in the classroom and on the playing field.  To help your kids achieve peak performance, here's a ten-point "game plan" to address time, nutrition and performance concerns.

Despite the popularity of energy drinks, especially among teens, both the National Federation of State High School Associations and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend against their consumption by children and adolescents because of their potential adverse health effects.