Caffeine: Your Kid's Drug of Choice

Early tomorrow morning cruise by any Starbucks located near a high school or middle school. What do you see? Kids! Kids drinking coffee!

Kids are into coffee at an earlier age more than ever before. The percentage of 18 to 24 year olds who drink coffee daily has doubled since 2003, from 16% to 21%, according to the National Coffee Association.

In the Montgomery Blair High School’s Online Newsletter, students posted their concerns with their fellow classmates’ use of caffeine:

•"Too many teenagers are addicted to caffeine. Young people today drink too much coffee and too much soda." -sophomore Tasha Prados

• "I know tons of people who stop by Starbucks in the morning to get their "fix" or else they complain the whole day about how they're tired.” -sophomore Jung Han

Let’s answer the major questions connected to the caffeine revolution among teens . . .

Why are kids suddenly hip to caffeine? Well, it’s everywhere . . . The stimulant is found not only in coffee, but also in tea, many soft drinks, chocolate, pain relievers and over-the-counter medications. Teens are also getting a serious caffeine fix from those energy drinks in the tall aluminum cans.

Some argue the reason for today’s teenage caffeine rage is that they’re chronically sleep deprived. 200 high school students took part in a 14-day study. They reported on the time they went to bed and woke up, any caffeine intake, and any naps they took. At the end of the study, the researchers found teens with higher caffeine intake slept fewer hours at night and took more naps during the day than those who had less caffeine. Hence, the need for more caffeine!

What are the downsides of caffeine? Let me give it to you straight. Caffeine causes anxiety, dizziness, headaches and the jitters. After all, caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Next time you’re stressed, remember that cup of java can make you more nervous.

Another downside is you end up needing more and more caffeine to get the jolt you’re looking for. When you have a large daily intake of caffeine, you develop less sensitivity to it and need more to get the same effects.

Caffeine can cause a person to lose calcium and that can lead to bone loss over a period of time. Doctors also warn caffeine can aggravate certain heart problems.

What’s a normal intake of caffeine? Experts in the American Dietetic Association consider 200-300 milligrams (mgs) of caffeine a day to be a moderate amount for adults. If you only consume 100 mgs a day, you’re still in danger of becoming dependent on caffeine. FYI: a 12-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee contains 260 mgs of caffeine.

For teens who need a fix of caffeine to get through classes or late night homework, they should limit their intake to 100 mgs of caffeine a day. Kids should consume a lot less.

To reduce your kid’s intake of caffeine try these steps:
•First, avoid caffeinated drinks in the evening. Instead, offer them water, milk or 100% fruit juice.
•Second, make plans to allow for plenty of time for homework, studying and writing reports. This will cut down on the desire to drink coffee.
•Third, help your teen plan how to get enough sleep. Some activities may need to be cut down to get into bed at a reasonable hour.
•Fourth, when your child gets tired and needs a lift, suggest they take a nap . . . not a Coke or a can of Red Bull.

John
Email John: johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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