According to the New York
Daily News, a new study has been published by the Journal of Pediatrics showing
that 75 percent of children ages 5-12 drink caffeine. Surprising, right?
When most people hear caffeine, they think of coffee. But most kids under the
age of 12 are certainly not spending all their allowance on vanilla lattes at
Starbucks or enjoying a cup of joe in the morning with the ‘rents. In fact, the
leading drink that is consumed by these children is soda, which is loaded with
caffeine.
Guidelines for caffeine in the US are outdated and no longer relevant,
according to New York Daily News. But, Canadian guidelines suggest no more than
85 milligrams per day for 12-year-olds. That’s far off the 109 milligrams
reportedly consumed by 8- to 12-year-olds and certainly does not match up with
the 52 milligrams that 5- to 7-year-olds imbibe.
Caffeine can have major negative effects on your health. Researchers have found
that, like adults, the more caffeine consumed by children, the less sleep they
get. It can also affect behavior. We’ve all experienced the ‘sugar buzz’ that
occurs after consuming a large soda. In some kids, this buzz can lead to poor
behavior, and coupled with less sleep, puts most in a bad mood and affects
their ability to learn in school.
Unfortunately, it’s not just kids ages 5-12 that are affected negatively by
caffeine. The same bad effects are visible in teens as well. Plus, your average
can of Coke has about 140 calories, with zero nutritional value. So, what can
you do? Replace your can of soda with a glass of water. Normal H20 will keep
you hydrated, quench your thirst and boasts zero milligrams of caffeine. No
more crashing after that caffeine buzz and sugar rush. Soon you’ll find that
it’s much more refreshing than all those sugary colas.
P.S. Need something fizzy? We like seltzer water flavored with lemon or a drop
of vanilla extract for a sweet treat. Delicious!
What do you think? Do you drink too much soda and are trying to quit? Blog
about it, babes.
BY BRIDGET RUNGE ON 12/23/2010 7:00:00 AM
POSTED IN nutrition, mind/motivation