Did you know it’s not advisable for kids to drink coffee?,get to know why today!!!.

We have become a coffee-crazed culture. Yet, with all the studies coming out on how a cup of joe can reduce the risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia and some cancers, what’s the harm?…Despite years of warnings from pediatricians and other health professionals that coffee and other caffeinated beverages like sodas and sports drinks can be harmful to youth, parents are allowing their little ones – even toddlers – to drink those beverages.

It’s not just coffee. A bottle of sports drink can contain nearly 250 milligrams of caffeine depending on the brand.A cup of tea can have up to 47 milligrams while a diet soda can have 46. Chocolate has some caffeine too, the amount rising as the chocolate darkens in color, a handful of chocolate covered coffee beans can have 336 milligrams of caffeine.

Remember, children are not little adults……because children are usually smaller in body size, it takes less caffeine to impair their functioning. An insignificant amount for an adult could be overwhelming for a small child. Too much caffeine can cause increase heart rate and blood pressure, contribute to acid reflux,cause anxiety and sleep disturbances in children. In very high doses, caffeine can be dangerous.
“Kids show up in the emergency room with irregular heartbeat or what we call tachycardia or rapid heartbeat,” statement from a pediatrician…..“Some people think it’s cool to give toddlers a soda pop.”

The limits are based mostly on body size, and those limits increase when a child has grown large enough to be able to metabolize caffeine more readily. However, if a child is small for their age, or has migraines, heart problems or seizures, they may be even more sensitive,thats according to my research.

And there’s another issue: the impact of coffee, tea, soda and sports drinks on a balanced diet….“My other problem with kids drinking coffee is that it’s of little nutritional value, and it’s replacing something that should be nutritionally complete, such as milk and water,” ….“Milk is packed with calcium and vitamin D, and water is a nutrient. We’re like 60% water, basically an ocean.”

What’s the bottom line? “Avoid caffeine!….“Caffeine is a stimulant that increases alertness,and if your child feels like he or she needs caffeine to get through the day, it would be better to work with a pediatrician to identify the root cause of what is creating the fatigue in the first place.”

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.