All natural sports drinks battle youth dehydration

Oct. 14, 2008

Crayons Inc., Bellevue, Wash., rolls out Crayons All Natural Sports Drinks, what the company claims is the only line of all natural and high fructose corn syrup-free sports drinks created specifically to address the nutrition and hydration needs of thirsty young athletes.

Available in three fun flavors — Playoff Punch, Leaping Lemon-Lime and Breakaway Berry — the 50-calorie, all natural drinks contain no high-fructose corn syrup, dyes, artificial sweeteners or preservatives, and have 50 percent less sodium than the leading sport drink. Packaged in an environmentally friendly, easy-to-hold eigh-ounce can, it is an ideal single-serving for kids to “slam down” when they need to be rehydrated and replenished.

Perfect for sports and other activities, the drinks fill a void in the fast-growing functional beverage market for kids. They provide optimal levels of vitamins, electrolytes and minerals, with low amounts of organic evaporated cane juice and a moderate amount of low-sodium sea salt–all carefully selected to specifically address the hydration and nutritional needs of kids. Added vitamin C and calcium help growing kids stay strong.

Youth dehydration is a serious issue, and liquids should be consumed before, during, and after sports. According to Brooke De Lench, author of Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports, two out of three children are dehydrated before sports practice even starts. By the time kids say they are thirsty, they are already dehydrated. Kids who are well hydrated are often the best performers, as they are able to maintain stamina and endurance throughout the game.

Crayons Inc. has teamed up with De Lench to create a downloadable “Healthy Hydration Guide for Parents.” See www.drinkcrayons.com/downloads/CrayonsEBrochure-lores.pdf.

“As a parent and kids coach, I’m thrilled to finally have a healthier sports drink option for the next generation of athletes,” says CEO Ron Lloyd. “There are 58 million thirsty kids, including my own, who are involved in sports. For the first time, kids can stay hydrated and get important nutrients with a drink designed just for them.”

Suggested retail price is $41.54 for a 24-pack at Amazon.com.