Coffee is the most popular way adolescents consume caffeine
According to the National Coffee Association, 83 percent of Americans say they drink coffee and 63 percent drink at least one cup per day. You may drink it to focus on your online culinary courses or just because it’s delicious. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that adults get no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, which is about a 20 ounces (a Venti cup) of Starbucks coffee. However, no recommendation is provided for children. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 73 percent of adolescents drink caffeine every day, and it’s mostly in the form of coffee. In fact, coffee is quickly becoming teens’ caffeinated beverage of choice.
The same amount of caffeine
The study found that caffeine intake in the adolescent community hasn’t actually changed much since 1999. The difference lies in how teens are drinking it. Formerly, cola and energy drinks were adolescents’ caffeine source of choice, but between 1999 and 2010, that changed. Soda and energy drinks used to account for 62 percent of teen caffeine intake, but now it’s around 38 percent. Coffee only made up 10 percent in 1999, and now kids are getting 24 percent of their daily caffeine from the beverage.
Caffeine and adolescent health
Another study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics looked at the ways energy drinks affected children and teens. These beverages generally contain large amounts of caffeine that are more difficult to regulate than a cup of coffee. The researchers found that energy drinks caused adverse effects, especially with kids who had seizures, diabetes and mood disorders. The study concluded that energy drinks had no health benefits and that more research should be done to influence the regulation of energy drinks.
Perhaps it is good that more kids are choosing coffee for their caffeine consumption. In fact, coffee does contain some health benefits.
Health benefits of coffee
Coffee contains antioxidants, which fight off free radicals in the body. They also prevent brain cell damage, help regulate blood sugar and decrease inflammation. In some people, caffeine dietetic effects could temporarily boost metabolism. Overall, coffee is a surprisingly healthy beverage. Some studies even note that it’s not as dehydrating as many used to believe. Additionally, a lightly sweetened cup of coffee contains significantly less sugar than energy drinks and soda. However, like all things, coffee is best in moderation.
Caffeine everywhere
Unfortunately, moderation is difficult to achieve because many products contain caffeine unexpectedly. According to the FDA, producers of food such as gum, water, syrup, waffles and jelly beans have been adding caffeine to the items.
