Brett Klika author for Combine 360 Blog
Hey kids, say NO to drugs! Unless, or course, that drug comes in a
brightly colored can that can be legally purchased at every store in
the nation. In that case, about 75% of our youth age 5-12 years old are
saying “yes” to the most widely used stimulant in the world, caffeine.
While moderate caffeine intake (less than 300 mgs/day) has generally
been considered “safe” for adult populations, very little research is
available on the affects of caffeine in children. This is alarming
considering the above statistic in addition to the fact that children
age 12-17 are the fastest growing segment of the population using
caffeine on a daily basis. Should we as adults be concerned? Should we
intervene? Read on to discover the answer to these, as well as other
rhetorical questions.
Caffeine affects the body by being absorbed directly through the
stomach lining. At the brain it binds to receptors that usually bind to a
chemical that calms you down. This interference sets off an alarm in
the body. Appropriately enough, this alarm is the same one that sounds
if you are actually being chased by a red bull. Adrenaline is released,
your heart beats faster, extra sugar is released into the blood from the
liver, and your kidneys get rid of extra water. Add in a few “feel
good” chemicals that are released to numb the pain your body thinks it
may incur if the bull catches you, and who-la, you’re ready for your
drive to work. The body learns to depend on this process so when you
don’t have your caffeine, you experience withdrawal effects such as
irritability and headache. The above is true whether you’re 6 or 66.
When reviewing the relatively “scant” research on the affects of
frequent caffeine intake in youth, it can be concluded that there are
far more negative findings that positive ones. These findings include:
• A negative correlation between caffeine ingestion and sleep (More caffeine, less sleep)
• A negative correlation between prolonged caffeine use and bone density (More caffeine, less bone density)
• A positive correlation between daytime “sleepiness” and caffeine
ingestion (More caffeine consumption, less energy during the day)
• A
positive correlation between consumption of caffeine beverages and
greater body mass index. (More caffeine consumption, fatter kids)
• A positive correlation between caffeine cessation and withdrawal symptoms (Take away caffeine, get withdrawal symptoms)
No findings were available in favor of daily caffeine consumption for kids.
Aside from the direct physiological affects of caffeine as a drug,
kids consume caffeine primarily through soft drinks that are high in
sugar. These drinks take the place of other nutritiously dense beverages
like water, milk, and some fruit juices. This is thought to be one of
primary factors behind the decrease in bone mass and increase in body
mass index.
While the negative physiological affects of caffeine in youth are of
concern, I believe these pale in comparison to the psychological effects
as they relate to addiction and future drug use. Caffeine is often a
child’s first exposure to “I can take this to feel good”. They draw this
conclusion as it is resonated daily in American culture. Coffee wakes
us up, alcohol puts us to bed. We don’t use drugs though, not in this
house! When one establishes the process of “take THIS to feel THIS way”
at a young age, how could it go anywhere good? There is definitely a
difference between having a coffee drink a couple times month as a treat
and having a couple energy drinks every day. It’s very dangerous to
lose accountability for the way you feel. If you don’t sleep, sit on
your butt all day, eat like crap, and have an abysmal outlook on life,
you SHOULD feel miserable. Kids should figure this out naturally and
learn to make changes accordingly. We as adults have to mentor them. By
the way, “M” on the monster can doesn’t stand for “mentor”.
Caffeine is not evil. Small amounts actually can have positive health
effects on adults. I take 120 mgs of caffeine every morning. As an
adult, however, I am able to evaluate caffeine’s affect on me. I am
aware of how much I take in and I don’t rely on it for energy throughout
the day. I understand that my energy is going to come from my lifestyle
and mindset. I am also able to make this association with my mood and
any other available drug. Alcohol can help me relax, but not as much as
focusing on rationally dealing with my daily challenges and maintaining
perspective. Children are not capable of this. They establish “take more
of THIS, feel more of THIS way”. Pretty soon they take something
different to make them happy, sad, awake, asleep, focused, not focused,
the list goes on.
The association between caffeine dependency at a young age and it’s
affect on future drug use has not been effectively researched because of
the alarmingly enormous amount of accepted and unregulated caffeine use
in youth. Researchers have found it difficult to draw a direct
association when an overwhelming majority of youth takes in large
amounts of caffeine daily. We must rely on behavioral logic and the
current physiological findings to draw our conclusions about children
and frequent caffeine ingestion.
While caffeine is not considered overtly dangerous, it can be
concluded that the risks of varying severity outweigh any benefit of
daily caffeine use in children. We as parents, teachers, coaches, and
mentors can help educate our children and lead them on a path of health
and wellness. In this way, we can create a future of happy, healthy,
pain-free adults!
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