Can (and Should) Kids Drink Prime Hydration Drinks?
Prime Hydration drinks do not contain caffeine and may not be harmful for most kids every once in a while, but in most cases, water remains the best choice for day-to-day hydration; that being said, Prime Energy Drinks are not appropriate for kids and teens due to their excessively high caffeine content.
The market has recently seen a surge in the popularity of Prime drinks, often advertised as the ultimate solution for staying hydrated and recovering quickly. Drinks made by Prime claim to provide a range of health benefits, including replenishing electrolytes and providing antioxidants, amino acids, and B vitamins, but they’ve been banned in some schools and even in some countries because of ingredients considered to be controversial for kids.
As a pediatric dietitian and mother of three, I can absolutely relate to wanting to provide the best nutrition for your active child.
In this post, we’ll explore why it’s essential to recognize the difference between Prime Energy Drinks (which are not appropriate for kids and teens due to their excessively high caffeine content) and Prime Hydration drinks, which do not contain caffeine. We’ll also chat about why sports drinks (and especially Prime Hydration drinks) are not generally recommended for kids, and I’ll suggest some healthier alternatives for maintaining hydration.
What Are Prime Hydration Drinks?
“Performance beverages" or “sports drinks,” are specially formulated types of beverages that claim to offer optimal hydration and improve athletic performance. They contain a blend of vitamins, carbohydrates, and electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Prime Hydration drinks are a little different from other sports drinks because they do not contain as many carbohydrates (or sugars). The ingredients in Prime Hydration drinks are intended to help athletes and active individuals stay hydrated during intense workouts and recover more quickly afterward, but they don’t offer much to help maintain energy levels.
Why Are Prime Hydration and Prime Energy Drinks Not Recommended for Kids?
Created by Youtube stars, Logan Paul and KSI, Prime drinks are massively popular among tweens and teens, thanks in part to social media. The brand capitalizes on the fame of its two star promoters and targets kids and teens in its marketing.
However, Prime offers two main types of beverages that are hard to tell apart and nearly indistinguishable in their online marketing, and one of them (Prime Energy) contains an excessive amount of caffeine (200mg per bottle!) that is the equivalent of drinking 2-3 cups of coffee or about 2 ½ cans of Red Bull.
The caffeine content is inappropriate for kids and teens, and Prime Energy drinks state on the label that they are not recommended for children under 18 years of age. However, caregivers may buy Prime Energy drinks thinking they are stocking up on a sports beverage and not realizing they are loading their kids up with caffeine.
Prime Hydration drinks don’t contain caffeine, but they aren’t a great choice for kids either. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Use of Sugar Substitutes or Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS)
While we know that excess sugar can contribute to several health problems in children (including tooth decay and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes), there is still not much long-term data in the pediatric population about the use of artificial sweeteners like sucralose (or Splenda), which is used in Prime Hydration drinks. According to the FDA, companies are required to include a NNS in the ingredient list but do not need to disclose how much is used.
Further, artificial sweeteners can taste sweeter than table sugar—for example, sucralose is 600 times as sweet as regular sugar. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, recent research suggests possible links between nonnutritive sweeteners and changes in appetite and taste preferences in children, which could affect weight and health in the long term.
While the FDA does classify artificial sweeteners as safe, some experts are concerned that artificial sweeteners cause changes the gut microbiome, despite limited supporting evidence.
In any case, whether to offer kids foods and beverages that contain NNS is a personal choice. As a pediatric registered dietitian and mother of three tween and teen girls, I don’t worry if my kids consume a food or beverage that contains NNS once in a while, but I don’t encourage them or keep them readily available in our home—mainly because I want my kids to grow up able to taste and appreciate the natural sweetness in whole foods and I worry that artificially sweetened foods blunt their ability to taste subtly sweet flavors.
2. Inappropriate Vitamin and Electrolyte Levels
While vitamins and electrolytes are crucial for many bodily functions, most children can meet their vitamin needs through a healthy, well-balanced diet, and when consumed regularly and in large amounts, Prime Hydration supplies excessive amounts of these micronutrients that may not be suitable for kids.
Prime drinks have more than 100% of the childhood recommended daily allowance (RDA) for some B vitamins and vitamins E and A. Vitamins E and A are fat soluble, meaning they can build up in the body. While drinking one bottle is likely fine, drinking more than one bottle regularly puts kids at increased risk for toxicity.
Keep in mind also that while replenishing electrolytes after rigorous activity can be helpful, consuming too many electrolytes can disrupt the body's natural balance and lead to health issues.
3. Unnecessary Ingredients
Prime Hydration drinks include various additives, artificial colors, and flavors. While not unique to Prime, these unnecessary ingredients may cause allergic reactions, digestive problems, or worsen symptoms in some chronic conditions like ADHD in some children.
4. Misleading Marketing
Again, it’s important to distinguish Prime Hydration drinks from Prime Energy drinks, which have very similar packaging. Prime Energy drinks contain excessive amounts of caffeine and should absolutely be avoided in children. One 12-ounce bottle of Prime Energy has 200mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of about 2-3 cups of coffee.
These popular drinks are also marketed as essential for kids participating in sports or physical activities. Their marketing can be misleading, making parents believe they are necessary when, in reality, they most likely are not.
What are the healthiest hydrating drinks for active kids?
Children engaged in regular, mild physical activities, like playing in the park or participating in recreational sports, do not suffer from significant electrolyte loss. Instead of relying on sports drinks like Prime, parents can consider these healthier (and generally less expensive) alternatives for keeping their children well-hydrated:
Water should be the primary source of hydration for kids - encourage your children to drink water throughout the day, especially when they are active
Homemade electrolyte solutions can be beneficial in cases where your child is engaging in intense physical activities and may require extra electrolytes; you can make homemade electrolyte drinks using water, a pinch of salt, and a touch of natural sweeteners, like honey or 100% fruit juice
Fresh fruits like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges have high water content and can contribute to hydration while providing essential nutrients and fiber
Coconut water is found inside coconuts and naturally contains electrolytes - check labels and prioritize brands that don’t include added sugars
If a child is involved in prolonged and intense physical activities, such as competitive sports or extended exercise lasting more than 2 hours, especially in hot weather, they might benefit from a sports drink that contains sodium, potassium, and a carbohydrate. Both Pedialyle Sports Powder Packs and Nuun Sports Hydration dissolve in water and create a convenient sports drink that helps replenish lost electrolytes. Both are significantly lower in sugar than Gatorade or Powerade, which are additional examples of sports drinks.
Before giving any specialized hydration drink to a child, it's always best to consult with a dietitian or pediatrician who can provide guidance based on the child's age, specific needs, and individual circumstances.
In cases of illness with vomiting or diarrhea, or if a child is experiencing significant dehydration due to illness or heat, a pediatrician may recommend an oral rehydration solution (ORS) like Kinderlyte, Berri Lyte, or Pedialyte, which are specifically formulated to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes.
For more information on your child’s nutritional needs, especially as an athlete, please check out my website for recipes or schedule a virtual consultation with me for one-on-one advice. Please leave a comment below and share with a friend who may need this info. Thanks for reading!