We support this important competition because of the seriousness of the topic: energy drinks and their negative impact on children’s health.
Participants are required to create an artwork—an anti-advertisement for energy drinks. They should create a poster warning young people against drinking these beverages. The competition aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, make children and their parents more vigilant when choosing beverages, warn against the consequences of drinking energy drinks, and point to an alternative to this type of beverage.
The competition is open to primary school students from the Warta Bolesławiecka municipality, and participation is individual. The jury will assess entries in two age categories: grades I–IV and grades V–VIII. First, second and third places will be awarded in each category.
The winners will receive attractive prizes. Each author may submit one artwork.
PLEASE NOTE! Entries must be sent or delivered in person by 29 May 2023 to the secretariat of Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa w Szczytnicy (Szczytnica 34, 59-720 Szczytnica).
More information and the full competition rules: councillor Michał Warchoł, e-mail: missio10@wp.pl and telephone 507-357-777).
What are the characteristics of energy drinks?
Energy drinks contain ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, inositol, simple sugars, B vitamins, flavoring substances, carbon dioxide, preservatives and acidity regulators. Depending on the manufacturer, they may also contain guarana extract, glucuronolactone or herbal extracts, such as ginseng and ginkgo biloba.
The energy value of energy drinks is approximately 45 kcal/100 ml, while the simple sugar content is approximately 10 g/100 ml of beverage. In Poland, the caffeine content of energy drinks is most often 80 mg/250 ml, and taurine content ranges from 500 to 1,000 mg/250 ml.
The harmful effects of energy drinks on children’s health
The ingredients in energy drinks can have very harmful effects on children’s health. Caffeine is a basic ingredient of these beverages and is not recommended in children’s diets because it has psychoactive effects. Increased caffeine consumption by children may cause mood changes, irritability and anxiety, while consuming large amounts (5 mg/kg of body weight/day) causes an increase in blood pressure. Caffeine also negatively affects calcium metabolism, which may cause disturbances in bone formation. High caffeine consumption may also affect the length and quality of children’s sleep.
Children with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney or liver disease, hyperthyroidism, as well as emotionally unstable children, are at particular risk.
PhD Eng. Bożena Wajszczyk, National Centre for Nutrition Education