Health
Sugar and ice is not so nice
Research shows sporty thirst-quenchers are an unhealthy alternative to water by Daniel Hipp, Health Editor, and Maria Petiy World Co-Editor
After finishing seven hours of school, completing physics homework, and whooping rivals in sports, some PRHS students may not realize they are consuming high amounts of sugar and calories through popular sports drinks at the end of the day. Sports drinks are consumed so often that many students don’t stop to take a real look at what they are drinking. Sports drinks have on average more sugar than the daily recommended amount for teens, which promotes obesity and diabetes. Although sports drinks have electrolytes and vitamins, these nutritional benefits can be taken in through healthy meals. “I would rather eat a banana before my competitions to get my electrolytes than drink Gatorade,” sophomore Brooke Treatch said, who is a varsity golfer and swimmer. Many vitamins found in sports drinks can be replaced with less Suessical the sugary alternates. Vitamin C, Musical commonly found in PowerAde and Vitamin Water, can be replaced easily with strawberries and oranges. Vitamin B, vital for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, can be found in cereal and eggs. Consuming a sports drink a day
can lead to an average of 2850 extra calories a month. Even with a zero calorie drink, an athlete could be consuming on average 4.29 grams of sodium and 570 grams of sugar. Over time this could cause sodium buildup, heart failure, and kidney disease; while the extra sugar could contribute to obesity and diabetes. If a person drinks 20 ounces daily for a year, they can gain as much as 13 pounds, according to UC Berkeley. “If the stuff I drink is the same color I use to wash the dishes, then it’s not a good thing!” sophomore and cross country runner Nick Stair said jokingly. “Is it a better way to hydrate? Not true. Sports drinks hold a few benefits, but overall athletes benefit more from drinking water,” health teacher and freshman boys basketball coach Brian Kerr said. “People [who] don’t drink sports drinks to hydrate but just to drink... could lead to [having] health issues.” Public health activists state sports drinks have become more common over the years. In fact they are pushing for a ban on the sports drinks and flavored water, according to healthy.net. After a long Bearcat day, research shows water is just the right fuel to keep you on top of your game.
BY THE BOTTLE: Although the bottle of water is taller, Gatorade holds a much larger calorie count. A sports drink each day can lead to 2850 calories per month. Photo by Forest Erwin
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Don’t become a statistic
Sex safety is becoming increasingly important in young people by Caitlyn Curran,
Business Team
Though PRHS ranked third in CST scores compared to Templeton High School and Atascadero High School, PRHS takes first place in the county for Chlamydia and birth rates. Seventy-one live babies were birthed to teen mothers ages 12-19 in Paso Robles in 2007, exceeding all other cities in the county, according to San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department Vital Statistics and State Department of Health Services. Young pregnancy isn’t the only lifelong consequence of sex, however, as approximately two out of three Americans who contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) are under the age 25, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “I don’t think Paso is any more
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promiscuous than SLO, but we have a lower socio economic population and therefore less education. Education gives people clearer goals for the future, lessening the risk for STDs, STIs, and pregnancy,” Advanced Peer and Psychology teacher Jeanne Neely said. “Abstinence is the only guarantee against pregnancy. If teens are going to have sex, the safest way is a hormonal birth control method and a condom, every time.” In danger of sounding like a freshman health teacher, the smart and healthy choice is obvious: before intimacy with anyone, both individuals should get tested. Free and confidential help can be found at the Family Planning Clinic on 723 Walnut Dr., Paso Robles. A student at PRHS was diagnosed with an STI at the Family Planning Clinic
earlier this school year. “I was experiencing pain when I had to pee; it was really bad. I really didn’t know what was wrong. I wish I had known more because I would have gone to the clinic earlier. Luckily, it was curable and I’m fine now,” she said. An estimated 80 percent of adults have oral herpes and 25 percent have genital herpes, both of which diseases are permanent. This number may even rise as the majority of people diagnosed with an STD or STI are younger than 25. High school students are a large demographic of those under 25; as diseases, infections, and pregnancy are all preventable, a more aware PRHS correlates to a healthier campus.
Paso Robles High School
CHLAMYDIA Q & A
What type of STI is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a bacterial infection. How do you become infected? Sexual contact with infected person through oral, anal or vaginal sex, or sharing sex toys. What are symptoms of Chlamydia? Frequent and burning urination, itching, or tingling in the vagina or urethra. May or may not have discharge. How long untill you see signs of infection? There have been cases where no symptoms show at all, but can show as early as 7-21 days (symptoms can come and go). How do you prevent infection? Both partners should get tested and use condoms during all risky behavior. How do you get tested? Visit the local clinic, start by calling (805) 237-3050. Is it treatable? Yes. Complications if not treated? Can cause infertility, damage to reproductive organs, or chronic pelvic pain. — Forest Erwin, Photographer Source from Lambda Medical Group
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