{"id":3393,"date":"2013-01-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/nutrition-generation-c-is-caffeine-the-next-kids-health-crisis\/"},"modified":"2013-01-28T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T00:00:00","slug":"nutrition-generation-c-is-caffeine-the-next-kids-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1millionbestdownloads.com\/nutrition-generation-c-is-caffeine-the-next-kids-health-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Generation C: Is Caffeine the Next Kids' Health Crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Istockphoto<\/p>\n
Recently my 12-year-old son came home and told us he had an energy drink at a parent-supervised party. We were shocked. Why would parents who would never allow cigarettes or alcohol make caffeine-spiked<\/a> beverages available to pre-teens? My son said it was no big deal; all of his friends were drinking them after school.<\/p>\n Apparently, so are lots of other kids. Over the last 30 years, caffeine intake among children and adolescents has spiked 70%; today two-thirds of children consume caffeine on a daily basis. They get it in soda and energy drinks, of course, but also in a surprising range of stealth products<\/a> marketed to kids, including candy, chips, gum, lip balm, even sunflower seeds.<\/p>\n How much of this substance are our kids getting? In a recent survey called Caffeine Consumption in Young Children<\/a>, Dr. William Warzak and colleagues from the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that kids as young as 5 drink the caffeine-equivalent of a can of cola a day, while kids 8 to 12 consumed 109 mg of caffeine a day, the amount in nearly three 12-ounce cans of soda! As a father of a 7 and 13 year old, I believe caffeine consumption among kids is a looming public health crisis.<\/p>\n Related links:<\/p>\n One of the reasons parents aren’t up in arms about this trend is that caffeine has gotten so much good press lately. Studies suggest it boosts weight loss and can enhance memory and focus. Coffee and tea are also rich in antioxidants, with possible anti-cancer and cardio-protective properties. <\/p>\n But that’s in adults (though as a doctor, I’m not convinced; I suspect caffeine may contribute to my patients’ cardiac problems, addiction, obesity, insomnia, and digestive disorders).<\/p>\n For children, the risks and benefits of caffeine look very different. Here’s what parents need to know about caffeine and it’s effects on kids’ health:<\/p>\n So how much caffeine is acceptable for our kids? To date there is little or no regulation or official guidelines as to the use of caffeine in drinks and foods. Consumption of less than 100mg a day (the equivalent of three colas) is likely safe, depending on the size and weight of your child. Higher levels could be associated with adverse effects, especially in younger, smaller children. For older, larger adolescents consumption of 150 to 250mg is likely medically safe. (Amounts consumed in cases of cardiac arrhythmia and death approached 1000mg; in these cases the caffeine probably unmasked underlying heart problems, rather than being the cause.)<\/p>\n As parents, my wife and I have sought to educate ourselves and our kids on the risks of using caffeine too early in life. When food shopping, we avoid buying caffeinated products. Flavored seltzer water—no added sugar—has become a favorite in our family. We don’t let the boys drink tea or coffee yet.<\/p>\n As a doctor, I strongly suggest you moderate the caffeine consumption of your kids, if not eliminate it from their daily diets completely. Read labels like a hawk (and if “caffeine” is on the ingredient list put it back). Your kids will be better off if they don’t belong to Generation C.<\/p>\n Jonathan Whiteson, MD, is an assistant professor and director of cardiopulmonary rehab at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York. <\/em><\/p>\n Istockphoto Recently my 12-year-old son came home and told us he had an energy drink at a parent-supervised party. We were shocked. Why would parents who would never allow cigarettes or alcohol make caffeine-spiked beverages available to pre-teens? My son said it was no big deal; all of his friends were drinking them after school. 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