CAFFEINATED KIDS
Caffeine is like anything else, too much of it can kill you. If you drank 40 cups of coffee all at one time, you’d
die. Coffee is not the only substance that provides caffeine. It is also contained in some soft drinks, tea,
chocolate, and over-the-counter caffeine pills such as NoDoz and Vivarin. It has been used for centuries as a
mild central nervous system stimulant.
Teenage boys top off the list of soda drinkers in America, consuming an average of three soft drinks a day,
which is triple the amount from just 20 years ago. Parents intending to limit their children’s daily caffeine
intake have a hard time if they rely on product labels. Under current FDA standards a product that has
caffeine in it needs to list it as an ingredient, but does not need to reveal the exact amount of caffeine it
contains.
So, how much caffeine do soft drinks contain? Mountain Dew contains 55 milligrams of caffeine per 12 –ounce
can. One boy who reported he drank at least 4 liters a day was ingesting the caffeine equivalent of five cups
of coffee.
A 1998 University of Minnesota study found that when kids stopped taking high doses of caffeine after 24
hours, it could have an unfavorable impact on their attention and performance, especially at school for up to a
week. Other experts believe that large doses of caffeine can cause children to behave as though they have
hyperactive disorders. And another concern affecting teenage girls comes from the fact that caffeine
leaches small amounts of calcium from the bones, thus increasing the possibility for bone fracture.
A study done by Duke University Medical Center reports that 4-5 cups of coffee in the morning leads to a
secretion of stress hormones that can last into the evening. The blood pressure of the coffee drinkers also
rises. In this 2-week study, coffee drinkers alternated between taking 250 milligrams of caffeine at 8 a.m.
and another 250 milligrams at noon with placebo pills the next day. They didn’t consume any other caffeine on
both days. Their blood pressure was taken 4 times an hour.
Researchers found a small increase in diastolic and systolic blood pressure and a significant surge of stress
hormones in the blood. On the day they ingested coffee, the participants reported feeling more stress. What
is interesting is that amphetamines have the same kind of effect on our bodies. Any kind of rush releases
adrenaline, which is a protective mechanism, but it can also make us feel more stressed.
Children who usually drink large quantities of caffeinated soft drinks show symptoms suggesting withdrawal
when their caffeine intake is restricted. These symptoms include declines in attention and in reaction time
while performing a task. Even after children in a study were allowed to return to “normal” levels of caffeine
consumption, the disrupted attention appeared to persist for up to 1 week.
People who use caffeine to extend their study time should be aware of its adverse effects when taken in large
quantities and be prepared for the let-down when this drug wears off. Doses of caffeine ranging from 250
mg.-750 mg. can produce restlessness, anxiety, nausea, headache, tense muscles, and sleep disturbances.
Cutting back or cutting out caffeine often has good results. It should be done gradually to prevent some of
the symptoms previously mentioned.
For more information on this topic, go to [Link] on the Internet.