Prime beverages have become increasingly popular, especially on social media. For your information, these beverages naturally attract kids because of their bright packaging, sweet flavors, and influencer promotions. However, not all ingredients are suitable for growing bodies. So, many parents are debating: Is Prime good for kids?
Well! We understand your concerns. That’s why we are going to write this post; here we’ll discuss in detail about Prime drinks. We’ll also weigh down their positives and downsides so you can better decide whether they are okay for kids or not. Plus, we’ll share wth you some health experts and organization reviews about consuming energy drinks. So, keep reading!
What are Prime Hydration and Prime Energy?
Prime is actually a brand name for the line of drinks like sports drinks, drink mixes, and energy drinks that was launched in 2022 by a collaboration of 2 internet personalities. Well! One of them is Lajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji (KSI), a British boxer & YouTube star, and the other one is Logan Paul, an American professional wrestler & social media influencer.
The very first product was Prime hydration, which was launched in 2022 and shortly followed by Prime energy. Let’s have a look at them!
1. Prime Hydration: It is basically renowned as a sports or recovery drink. If we talk about its ingredients, then it’s worth noting that it’s caffeine-free. It mainly contains electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺ , and small amounts of Mg²⁺), vitamins ( B6 and B12 to support energy metabolism), and minerals. Thus, owing to its composition, it increases the hydration level and is considered generally safe for even kids or teens.
2. Prime Energy: On the other hand, Prime Energy drink contains almost 20mg of caffeine/can. So, it’s one can is actually like you have drunk almost 2 cups of coffee at a time. Thus, owing to their high level of caffeine, it’s best marketed for older teens or adults, not for kids. This is because in kids, it may lead to side effects like sleeping issues or an increased heart rate.
Keep in mind that both of these products look similar because both share the bold colors, the same “PRIME” logo, and matching designs. So, it is more likely that you can mistakenly buy the caffeinated energy drink for your kids instead of the caffeine-free one. So, you should stay alert and before buying always check the labels for words “Energy” or “Caffeine-free”.
Why are kids attracted to Prime beverages?
Prime beverages, being colorful and sweet, would easily grab their attention. Let’s dive deeper and address some other reasons for their popularity among kids.
Social media influence and celebrity endorsement
First of all, Prime beverages, as mentioned, have a link with the famous YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul. For your information, these influencers have very high followings, especially among young audiences, like tens of millions, which vary across different social media platforms.
So, it’s an obvious thing that when kids see their influencers marketing any product, then they would definitely want to use it, right?
Brand appeal and trending status
Furthermore, this Prime brand has actually turned into a status symbol for kids or teens. For instance, when they see viral videos, social media trends, or challenges featuring the Prime brand, they feel the urge to join in and be part of this hype.
So, I must say that in a race to fit in with their online peers, they usually copy what they see online. Thus, they treat the Prime drink as more than just a beverage, but as a symbol of popularity and belonging.
Flavor profiles and marketing strategies
In addition to brand appeal, its fruity flavor ( like icepop, blue raspberry, strawberry watermelon, lemon lime, etc.) and bright eye-catching packaging are other common reasons for its popularity among kids. Thus, brands’ clever marketing encourages kids to keep buying and trying very new flavors.
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Is Prime good for kids? The benefits and drawbacks
Prime drinks actually look fun and refreshing, but if you ask about their suitability for kids, then do remember it depends on which version you are using. This is because both Prime Energy and Prime Hydration have different effects on the body.
Potential positives (Prime Hydration):
Supplies electrolytes for Hydration support: If we talk about the Prime hydration version, then as the name suggests, it’s basically designed for hydration purposes. You know, during sweating, your essential body electrolytes like Na⁺, K⁺ , and Mg² are released, which actually maintain the in and out fluids balance.
Thus, you feel dehydrated, experience muscle fatigue, or even cramps. Thus, prime hydration contains these electrolytes that the body has lost during physical activity and helps to maintain the right balance of body fluids for proper body functioning.
No added sugar: Furthermore, another benefit is that, unlike other sport drinks, which contain sugar. Both Prime drinks contain artificial sweeteners despite sugar. Thus helping you to rehydrate without increasing your blood sugar levels.
Concerns (Especially Prime Energy):
High caffeine levels in Prime Energy: Well! Prime Energy has a totally different story; it’s not any sports drink, as it contains an excessive amount of caffeine. For your information, caffeine is actually a methylxanthine compound that stimulates your Central nervous system, thus making you feel awake, alert, or more focused.
It’s safe to consume for adults, but not recommended for kids because of the following side effects.
Health impacts related to caffeine for kids:
- Sleep disturbance: It’s worth noting that caffeine’s half-life (meaning the time it stays active in the body) is higher (8-10 hours) in children. As a result, it disturbs the melatonin (hormone responsible for the sleep-awake cycle) production in the bodies of kids.
- Anxiety: Furthermore, as kids’ brains are still developing, overstimulation by caffeine actually causes restlessness, anxiety, and mood swings.
- Heart rate issues: Since kids have smaller body mass and a more sensitive cardiovascular system, even moderate caffeine may increase their heart rate. UTSouthwestern Medical Center also conducted a study and revealed that caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant found in the world that majorly affects heart health in kids.
- Artificial sweeteners: Besides the above, both prim versions contain artificial sweeteners. Although they are generally safe for kids, said the FDA. The reason is that their consumption may change kids’ taste habits and also affect their digestion.
- Excessive hype: Moreover, because of excessive social media hype of prime drinks, kids may overuse them, not because they need them, but just to fit in the trend. So, parents should remain careful, don’t allow kids to use prime energy, and use prim hydration only when needed. But keep in mind that no one can substitute for pure water.
What do health experts say about Prime for children?
Now, let’s see what most health experts have their opinions about consuming Prim drinks for kids. So, parents may have developed a better understanding!
Consolidated warnings from medical professionals and organizations
For your information, according to the NBS national news, Schumer (U.S. Senator, in 2023, actually in his press conference) called the FDA to investigate the Prim drinks. He further said that such drinks contain a dangerous amount of caffeine, which is not safe for kids.
Furthermore, according to the Mirror News, one kid in Wales reported a cardiac episode and had a stomach pumped after consuming the Prime. And even before Schumer’s Public warning, CBBC News, some schools in the UK even started banning prime drinks.
According to the pediatrics, almost 30-70% of young kids consume energy drinks. And those having an unregulated amount of caffeine (like the Prime Energy) may cause serious health effects, especially in younger kids.
These may include seizures, diabetes, cardiac abnormalities, or behavioral disorders. Also, many of the ingredients of energy drinks are still under study, so it’s best to avoid them for kids.
Specific recommendations on caffeine intake for children and adolescents
Kids below 12: Well, most Experts recommend not to use caffeinated products for kids aged below 12 and also avoid beverages with added sugar.
Kids aged 12-18: Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts suggest limiting caffeine to no more than 100 mg per day for kids aged 12-18. And they further reported that the National Federation of State High School Associations recommends young athletes not use energy drinks for hydration.
Adults: Moreover, the FDA has said that for most adults, consuming 400mg of caffeine/day is generally safe with no negative health effects.
Also, according to research conducted by the National Institute of Health Sciences, caffeine consumption actually hampers overall children’s growth and development.
Concerns about other stimulant ingredients in Energy Drinks
In addition, according to the CDC.gov school nutrition, many energy-style beverages include other stimulants such as guarana, taurine, or L-carnitine in addition to caffeine. Well! You know the combination of these ingredients amplifies risk for children (sleep issues, heart rate increase, anxiety).
The debate around marketing practices and their impact on children’s health.
Since most of the energy drinks like Prime have gained popularity because of social media hype, despite the health effects on kids, many researchers are also debating such marketing practices. For instance, some experts at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have pointed out that “excessive amounts of caffeine endanger kids and teens, yet energy-drink marketing often targets the vulnerable.”
In short, most of the experts argue for stricter regulation of the advertising and marketing of these drinks to youth.
How to talk to your kids about Prime and other trendy drinks?
Now, being a parent, you should stay active and educate your kids about the prime and other trendy drinks. To help you in this regard, here are some practical tips that you must follow!
Encourage open discussion about influencer marketing: To have an open discussion with kids, there must be a friendly bond, so kids may listen to you. For instance, on a dining table, you may ask kids about influencers like KSI or Logan Paul.
Now, instead of adopting a strict attitude, you should calmly say that if any social media influencer uses anything, then it doesn’t mean you should copy them, besides your age. Also, let your kids ask questions, and you have to clarify them in a polite way. It builds trust, and they are more likely to follow what you are saying.
Teach them how to read ingredient labels: Moreover, you should ask your kids to read the labels before using any energy drinks. Guide them they avoid caffeine, sugar, and artificial sweeteners if they are found. Now, explain what these ingredients do to our bodies. Tell them that nothing can substitute for your health.
Help them distinguish hydration drinks from energy drinks: Furthermore, as mentioned, Prime Energy and Prime Hydration look similar. So you should tell your kids that hydration drinks are caffeine-free, while Engy drinks contain caffeine. So don’t go for packaging, but read the ingredients on the labels.
Encourage healthier alternatives: However, besides using any of the hydration drinks, you should encourage kids to use water, coconut water, or natural juices. As nothing can substitute for natural things, as they are free of any additives, there is no fear of any side effects.
Bonus Tip: Use of the FlashGet Kids parental control app
From all the above discussion, now it’s very clear that kids or teens mostly make use of energy drinks to fit in the social media hype, right? So, happy to share with you that you can deploy FlashGet kids software, which helps in real-time monitoring of which apps your kids are using and what challenges they are part of. For instance;
- You can limit the use of excessive social media, like blocking some apps during specific hours.
- Also, you can live monitor what kind of videos your kids are interacting with and who they are following. Thus, you can take timely action and communicate with your kids about using social media safely without compromising their health by following trends.
Conclusion
In summary, the safety of prime beverages for kids depends on the type of prime version they are consuming. This is because Prime Energy, due to excessive caffeine content, isn’t safe for kids. On the other hand, prime hydration, being caffeine-free, is okay for kids, but in moderation.
However, prime drinks are gaining immense popularity among kids and teens because of eye-catching packaging and social media influence. That’s what being a parent is all about: staying informed and leveraging the FlashGet Kids parental control app. This app keeps you updated about your kids’ activities in real-time, thus you can timely protect them from unhealthy hypes.
