🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Currently, most market beverages claim benefits such as health promotion, intelligence enhancement, nutrition, and vitamin C supplementation. Many parents willingly spend extra money to buy drinks for their children, some even replacing water entirely. However, experts warn that frequent consumption of beverages harms children’s health—plain water remains the healthiest drink for kids.
Recently, the China Youth Research Center surveyed 2,500 students across six major cities, revealing that fewer children now drink plain water when thirsty, while more opt for drinks. Researcher Zhao Xia from the China Youth Research Center noted that water, one of the six essential human nutrients, acts as the body’s best lubricant and solvent—many substances in the body must dissolve in water to react.
Zhao Xia said some beverages fail to quench thirst and may worsen dehydration, increasing thirst. Sugary drinks and juices rich in vitamins and inorganic salts are poorly absorbed and consume water during oxidation and breakdown, making one thirstier afterward. Furthermore, artificial colors and preservatives in drinks hinder children’s growth and development. Excessive beverage consumption may lead to obesity, underweight, and various diseases such as “juice urine.”
Zhao Xia explained that purified water is produced by filtering ordinary water, removing harmful substances—but also stripping beneficial minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium, and iodine. Long-term consumption may negatively impact growing children. Mineral water varies widely by source, with differing mineral compositions; not all types are suitable for children’s long-term drinking. Therefore, neither purified nor mineral water should dominate children’s daily hydration.
Zhao Xia emphasized that plain water promotes metabolism, regulates body temperature, transports nutrients, cleans internal organs, enhances immunity, and offers beauty and skin benefits. From a health perspective, parents should encourage children to drink plain water.