Poison in a Can? Caffeine Dangerous for Children

I grew up loving ice tea in the summer and hot chocolate in the Winter. One summer about all I consumed in the sticky hot weather was ice tea and more ice tea. In the Winter, I relaxed and warmed up with a mug of hot chocolate. I didn't even think about caffeine at the time or that it might be harmful. In fact, I didn't think about caffeine in my diet until years later when I began to to have lumps in my breasts on a regular basis.

By then studies were showing a link between cystic breasts and caffeine. The doctor and I agreed, going off caffeine would have positive benefits. He was right. I haven't needed surgery to check out a breast cyst since then, because I no longer get them.

I also dealt with the caffeine issue when I was pregnant, when going off chocolate, with its caffeine buzz, gave my baby a more healthy start.

But my caffeine intact was minimal to what our young people consume every day, often in one single soda pop can or mug of coffee. I didn't consume soda as an energy drink or drink coffee at all as a child. Coffee was considered a grown-up beverage. With the spread of coffee shops, young people are lining up for their shot of caffeine. But coffee is far from the only problem. And caffeine drinks have become a major problem, with kids and adults using them to boost energy and alertness-thus the energy drink designation.

When the drinks, termed energy drinks, are called things like Radioactive Energy, Adrenaline Rush and Pimpjuice, you get the idea that this isn't your parent's pop. The latest energy drinks are loaded with enough caffeine (and often calories) to hype up an adult, much less a child or teen. In fact, a 16 oz Starbucks Coffee Grande has more caffeine (372 mg) than a 1 Vivarin caffeine pill (200 mg). (Check out the caffeine data base at http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database.)

So what's the big deal? Caffeine is not harmless. Caffeine is a stimulant that destroys Vitamin C. Some symptoms of an overloaded system are inability to sleep, being overanxious, tremors, nausea, even diarrhea. In high doses, caffeine causes the heart to race, heart palpations and even seizures. Caffeine use is linked to high blood pressure.

Kids are not only getting high, they're getting hooked on high doses of caffeine. Those addicted to caffeine either in coffee or energy drinks end up dehydrated because caffeine is also diuretic. Too much can cause stomach ulcers, dizziness, even fainting. Worse yet, high doses of caffeine, especially energy drinks chugged like alcohol, can be fatal.

On top of the caffeine, many energy drinks contain ingredients that intensifies the effect of the caffeine, such as taurine and guarana.

When hooked, the lack of caffeine may bring on such symptoms as feeling sleep deprived, little energy to the point of lethargy, and, of course, the one most of us know-the monster headache.

So what's a person or a parent to do when some pediatricians claim that any caffeine intake is too much for kids? Model moderate caffeine use. Teach about the dangers to our children and teens. Monitor our own intake and that of our children. Chugging caffeine is one habit that be kicked with commitment and determination. The time to start is now.