Kids and Caffeine: How Dangerous Is It? (page 3 of 3)

Quit This Habit Cold Turkey

Caffeine poisoning isn't the only condition that concerns pediatricians. With childhood obesity a national epidemic, doctors are dismayed to see newfangled ways for kids to drink empty calories. A single Java Chip Frappuccino with whipped cream packs 510 calories and 59 grams of sugar into 16 ounces.

While kids overdo the calories, many come up short on sleep. Nearly half of kids 11 to 17 years old don't get the minimum eight hours a night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Many use caffeine to keep going, and the loss of sleep takes its toll. One 2003 study by neurologists at Ohio State University found that seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders who drink a lot of caffeine are up later at night and are more tired during the day than their peers. Nearly 30 percent of all teens actually fall asleep in class at least once a week.

Even overdoing it during crunch times like exam week can backfire. While one cup of coffee may make you feel focused temporarily, downing several energy drinks or a whole pot of coffee can have the opposite effect. "Your ability to concentrate is actually diminished," explains Tareg Bey, PhD, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, Irvine. "You're so hypervigilant, you can hardly process the data that comes at you."

While many adults can drink as much as 300 milligrams of caffeine a day -- that's several cups of strong-brewed coffee -- without suffering any unpleasant side effects, the stimulant can be harder on kids. Plus, most energy drinks contain ingredients that accelerate caffeine's effects (watch labels for taurine and guarana).

Signs that a child or teen has overdone it: nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, shaking, nausea or diarrhea. An overcaffeinated kid may exhibit symptoms associated with (and sometimes mistaken for) ADHD.

So what is a reasonable amount of caffeine for a child or teen? Many pediatricians will tell you simply that any caffeine is too much. "Children shouldn't have it at all," says Margaret R. Savoca, PhD, a pediatric nutritionist who has found that consuming more than 100 milligrams per day of caffeine is linked to high blood pressure in adolescents, especially in African Americans. With kids' blood pressure on the rise, the last thing they need is an artificial energy boost. Besides, if kids are eating well and getting enough sleep, they should naturally have more than enough energy.

How can you tell if your child or teen has developed a caffeine habit? See what happens when that energy drink or coffee isn't available for 24 hours. If he appears excessively sleepy or lethargic, or gets a headache, it's time to cut back. The good news: This is one habit anyone can quit cold turkey.

From Reader's Digest - July 2007

 

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