Major health organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggest that children under 12 should not eat or drink any food or drink that contains caffeine. For children over 12 years old, caffeine intake should be in the range of no more than 85 to 100 milligrams per day. Does your child love a cup of morning coffee as much as you do? Is he or she looking forward to a little Java jolt in the local cafeteria after school? With the increase in coffee consumption among children and adolescents, the impact of coffee is being discussed. Beyond what research on caffeine has shown, we really don't know anything about the long-term effect of coffee on children. Because children have a smaller body size, less is needed to affect their functioning.
Children and adolescents also continue to develop and the impact of caffeine on their nervous and cardiovascular systems is not fully understood. Excess caffeine can cause problems such as increased anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux, and sleep disorders. Excess caffeine is dangerous for children and, in very high doses, can be toxic. Official recommendations are in line with old “coffee will curb its growth warnings. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend caffeine until children reach adult height.
If your child wants to have his cup of coffee once in a while, it's okay for kids ten years and older. It gives them the experience without many of the effects. However, if you want to have a cup of coffee regularly, it is best suited for after puberty. Their bodies will be able to handle caffeine better in adulthood, but as long as they have had a growth spurt, it shouldn't affect their growth or development. Pediatricians suggest that children under 12 should not eat or drink any food or drink that contains caffeine.
The age and weight recommendations are the same for children aged 13 to 18. For example, a 13-year-old child weighing 45.3 kg (100 pounds) should not consume more than 113 mg of caffeine per day, which is just under 1.5 cups of brewed coffee. Research shows that 7 out of 10 people in the United States drink coffee every week and 6 out of 10 people drink it every day. Caffeine causes the body to remove water, so it can lead to dehydration, especially if the person does not drink an adequate amount of water a day. However, major health organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), claim that “caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents. Get more caffeine from energy drinks, coffee, or coffee-based drinks and snacks than ever before. However, there is currently no research showing whether drinking coffee in childhood could have a positive or negative impact on adulthood.
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans explicitly recommend avoiding caffeine in children under two, which I cover in this podcast. However, there is little evidence to support this, especially since in many Scandinavian countries, children start drinking coffee at a very young age and seem to grow up perfectly healthy (and often very tall). Energy drinks also include other micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), herbal additives, and potentially high-dose sugar. But caffeine for children? Increasingly, and at younger ages, it is common to see children consume caffeine-laden beverages. When children drink too many coffee drinks, they may not realize that they are consuming empty calories that can contribute to unhealthy weight gain.
Coffee is the obvious source of caffeine, but it can be found in other soft drinks, foods and drinks that contain caffeine. She says that because of the caffeine content, children should not drink coffee until they are 16 years old. Caffeine consumption among kids has been on the rise over recent years due to its availability in energy drinks and other beverages. While there are some benefits associated with drinking coffee such as improved alertness and concentration levels; there are also potential risks associated with excessive consumption such as increased anxiety levels and sleep disturbances.
Major health organizations suggest that kids under 12 should avoid any food or drink containing caffeine altogether; while those aged 12-18 should limit their intake to no more than 85-100 milligrams per day (roughly 1-1.5 cups of brewed coffee). If your child wants to enjoy a cup of joe once in a while; it's okay for kids aged 10+ as long as they don't exceed this limit. However; if you want your child to have a cup of coffee regularly; it's best suited for after puberty when their bodies will be able to handle caffeine better without affecting their growth or development.
