How is Caffeine affecting Your Child's Health?



Posted: Thursday, July 03, 2008

by
Nourish Your Kids

More and more young children and teenagers are drinking Energy Drinks. There are lots of problems with the addition of these drinks to kids' diets. First of all, caffeine is an addictive drug. It is dangerous to young people's developing brains and is not recommended for children or teenagers by health experts. Caffeine is a diuretic and can cause dehydration. It can cause insomnia, restlessness, high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, heart palpitations, anxiety, headaches and adrenal exhaustion.

While Mountain Dew contains 55 milligrams of caffeine in a 12 ounce serving, one 8 ounce serving of Monster has 75 milligrams of caffeine and a 16 ounce SoBe Adrenaline Rush includes 152 milligrams of caffeine. Because many of the cans for these drinks have gotten larger, kids are getting 2-3 times the caffeine listed on the label.

In addition to the problems associated with the caffeine in energy drinks, the amount of sugar per serving is staggering. An average serving size of most energy drinks contains about 28 - 40 grams of sugar. That is 7-10 packets of sugar. Because sugar is implicated in health issues ranging from depressed immune systems to obesity to diabetes to cancer, kids drinking these energy drinks are severely compromising their health. The neuro-toxins that come along with sugar-free versions, in the form of artificial sweeteners, are like poison to the brain.

So many energy drinks that children and teens are drinking are a mysterious blend of caffeine, sugar and herbs. The Medical Director from the Center of Integrative Medicine at the Encino-Tarzan Regional Medical Center says, "It just becomes more of a witches brew. You're playing with things we don't really understand and the longterm consequences are unclear."

Also, not to be overlooked, the companies who market energy drinks to kids are sending the message that kids need these drinks to get a buzz, to get through the day, to feel differently or to get a boost. Children start to believe they need drugs or other substances to get through the day. Many kids, instead of eating well, exercising or getting enough sleep are falling right into the same patterns many adults have, which in turn contribute to serious health issues. We have no idea what the short- or long-term health consequences of drinking energy drinks is for young people, but we can imagine they are not good.

As parents, we want our kids to be healthy and happy. It's important that we make parenting decisions that support that . Energy drinks are not a 'treat' and young children should not be offered these drinks at parties or on special occasions; and say no to teenagers who want to drink them at home or in your presence, while educating them about the health consequences of drinking energy drinks.

Resources for this article: Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug by Stephen Cherniski Energy Drink Hype: A Monster of Concern, newsletter by Brighton High School Counselors

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Health Kids, Happy Moms @ http://www.nourishyourkids.com
Two moms, one a Holistic Health Educator and the other a Holistic Pediatrician, help moms raise healthier children.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by straight talk
 3 years 220 days ago.
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Yes a great article but we must stop and look at the habits of the parents. The shape they are in. if one is heavy most likely eating and drinking incorrectly is not exactly a priority issue nor is health. Sad but true. I shiver when i see my grandchildren drinking a softdrink or some bervegae loaded with suger and eating something loaded with fat. Yet for many today this is the cheap way out. Out of this world.
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