Prime Hydration Drink vs Prime Energy Drink for Kids
July 12, 2023
Kids are asking about, and evening selling to one another, a drink called Prime. But, is Prime good for kids? And what’s the difference between Prime Hydration and Prime Energy?
Preteens and teens all over the nation are drinking a beverage called Prime. It’s a sports drink designed to boost hydration and energy levels.
It’s become so popular, kids are selling it to each other at school, and some schools have taken measures to ban it.
In fact, countries like Australia and New Zealand have banned Prime drink due to its questionable ingredients.
Prime is marketed as a sports hydration drink. Even though we’ve got Gatorade, Powerade, and other kinds of sports drinks and vitamin waters, Prime Drink has taken kids by storm.
In fact, as a dietitian who works with child and teen athletes and a mother to four grown kids, I’ve not seen any sports nutrition product capture the attention of kids and teens quite like Prime. Here are the full details and my review of what you should know in order to make a good decision for your child and family.
What is Prime (Drink)?
The founders of Prime, popular YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul, promote Prime regularly but the company, Congo Brands, is the primary owner. Logan Paul and KSI have had a mesmerizing affect on tweens and teens! And this has trickled down to children.
Prime makes three main products: Prime Hydration Drink, Prime Energy Drink, and Prime Hydration Plus sticks (a powder that’s added to water). These products come in a variety of thirst-quenching flavors: Glowberry, X, Strawberry Banana, Cherry Freeze, Ice Pop, and Strawberry Watermelon.
Prime Hydration Drink
Prime Hydration is a flat coconut water-based beverage, with added branch chain amino acids (BCAAs), electrolytes, and B vitamins. It is caffeine-free.
The company itself says that this drink should not be used in children under 15.
Prime Energy Drink
Prime Energy is a carbonated beverage. Flavors include: Dream Pop, Original, Ice Pop, Strawberry Watermelon, and Blue Raspberry. Prime Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can, added electrolytes, and touts no added sugar. They also state this is a vegan product.
Prime Hydration Plus (powder sticks)
These are sticks of powdered Prime Hydration which you can mix with water. They come in the same flavors as Prime Hydration Drink.
What You Should Know About Prime Drinks
There are a few things to think about when it comes to the range of Prime drinks: caffeine, branch chain amino acids, and artificial sweeteners.
Caffeine in Prime Energy Drinks
The amount of caffeine content is the biggest concern to me about Prime Energy.
Unlike a typical sports drink that is designed to replace electrolytes lost in sweat and prevent dehydration, Prime Energy has a caffeine content of more than two and a half cans of Red Bull.
That’s 200 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce can. Caffeine is considered a stimulant drug and the limits for kids are well below this amount.
Prime Energy states on the label that the beverage is not suitable for children under 18.
The Downsides of Too Much Caffeine for Kids
For children, too much caffeine can have undesirable side effects.
It can cause a host of problems such as dehydration, heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, anxiety, and poor sleep.
Want to know the caffeine limits for children? Read: How Much Caffeine is Too Much for a Child?
Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) in Prime
There are 250 mg of BCAAs in each serving of Prime Hydration Drink. They are listed on the label as L-isoleucine, L-leucine, and L-valine.
I think the presence of branch chain amino acids creates a false sense of value. Marketing BCAAs as a benefit may lead you to think your child needs them, or they have some extra special benefit for your child.
They do not.
Theoretically, BCAAs are protein-building blocks and are thought to help individuals build more muscle. But in the average person, who eats a diet with enough protein, there’s a very limited effect, according to research. Especially if children are pre-pubescent.
Besides, these are amino acids that naturally occur in poultry, meat, fish and milk.
Curious about puberty and muscle building? Read: 7 Tips for a Healthy Growth Spurt
For the average kid consuming Prime, the addition of BCAA will provide them with little benefit.
Artificial Sweeteners in Prime Drinks (Sucralose and Ace-K)
Sucralose is a non-calorie sweetener, like aspartame and saccharin, and it is found in Prime Hydration. Prime Energy contains sucralose as well, and additionally, another artificial sweetener called acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K).
Splenda is the most common form of sucralose. It’s 600 times sweeter than sugar, and the FDA and other organizations regard it as safe for children. A panel of 200 experts found that data on the effects of low-calorie sweeteners on the human gut microbiota are limited and do not provide enough evidence of an impact on gut health at doses that are relevant to human consumption. But some experts are concerned.
Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) is a non-nutritive sweetener used in many food and beverages. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar and is generally regarded as safe.
Related article: Aspartame for Kids
Is Prime Okay for Kids?
Although your child might be asking for Prime because it’s a popular beverage, Prime doesn’t pan out as something that’s actually needed. Water will suffice for most kids as an optimal hydration source.
If you have a very active kid, or one who is participating in regular intensive exercise lasting more than an hour, then you can consider a rehydration drink, such as Prime Hydration without the caffeine.
One warning, however.
Both Prime Hydration and Prime Energy look VERY similar in their packaging. And some of the flavors overlap for both hydration and energy beverages.
Read the labels and teach your child to do the same so there are no mistakes with accidentally consuming Prime Energy.
Learn More about Sports Nutrition for Kids
- Start healthy habits early with my new book: Kids Thrive at Every Size!
Jill Castle, MS, RD
I like empowering parents to help their children and teens thrive at every size with realistic advice centered on healthful habits around food, feeding, nutrition and health behaviors. As a pediatric dietitian and author, my goal is to share strategies and realistic advice to help you raise a healthy and happy child through my articles and podcast.
Jill Castle, MS, RD
I like empowering parents to help their children and teens thrive at every size with realistic advice centered on healthful habits around food, feeding, nutrition and health behaviors. As a pediatric dietitian and author, my goal is to share strategies and realistic advice to help you raise a healthy and happy child through my articles and podcast.