[Jessica QuinnParticipant]

Great! This is so helpful. I am also a vegetarian, so finding alternative sources for nutrients can sometimes be tricky. According to a paper that I found by Duo Li, a vegetarian diet tends to be low in cholesterol, among other nutrients. (1) I love eggs, so that will be a good source of cholesterol. This will still keep my level low since I do not eat meat or sea food. What are some effects of high cholesterol? Is it possible to be high in cholesterol from consuming multiple servings of eggs everyday?

1. Li, D. Effect of vegetarian diet on non-communicable disease. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 30 Jan 2014; 94(2):169-173. Available at http://apps.webofknowledge.com.dist.lib.usu.edu/full_record.do?product=WOS&search_mode=GeneralSearch&qid=1&SID=2Ci6CDYShZHvp1v34LM&page=1&doc=5.

[Jessica QuinnParticipant]

No, sorts drinks are not beneficial for people who are not athletes. According to David Katz M.D., M.P.H., “The average sports drink has about 100 calories from sugar, and a little over 200 milligrams of sodium, in 16 ounces” (Katz D). Even though sports drinks have half as many calories as soft drinks, they have about three times the sodium. Young people and adolescents are especially known to consume sports drinks, other energy drinks and soft drinks on a daily basis (Park S), which only provide extra calories and sugars that can lead to weight gain and other health problems (Sports drinks). It is not necessary for them to consume sports drinks because these extra calories may also cause problems in growth and body composition (Sports drinks). The only time that sports drinks are beneficial for anyone is during long, intense workouts and outside exercise, especially in the heat (Katz D). With extra sweating, more salt is lost from the body and our blood sugar becomes low. Sports drinks can provide the carbohydrates, the sodium, and the hydration that our bodies need during intense exercise (Katz D). The moral of the story is, always choose water over sports drinks unless you are an athlete who in enduring prolonged workouts (Katz D).

References:

Katz D. The Rumor: Sports drinks have magical restorative properties the plain water doesn’t. WTHealth Knows website. http://upwave.com/workout/sports-drinks-healthy. Published 2013. Accessed February 15, 2014.

Park S, Blanck HM, Sherry B, Brener N, O’Toole T. Factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage intake among United States high school students. J Nutr. 2012 Feb; 142(2), 306-12. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.148536.

Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? The American Academy of Pediatrics. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/6/1182.long. Published 2011. Accessed February 15, 2014.

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