According to a recent report from Bloomberg, the demand for coffee has never been higher. Millennials are drinking more coffee than any previous generation. According to Bloomberg, in the past four years, coffee intake has increased from 34 percent to 48 percent in millennials ages 18 to 24 and from 51 percent to 60 percent in millennials between 25 to 30.
Bloomberg’s data also shows that the coffee craze is starting earlier in life: “Younger millennials, born after 1995, started drinking coffee at about 14.7 years old, while older millennials, born closer to 1982, began at 17.1 years.” But what about today's children? Statistics show that coffee consumption among kids is on the rise.
I was recently reading an article at LiveStrong.com about children and coffee consumption and wanted to share with you some of the main points.
Insomnia: Children ages 5 to 12 need at least 11 hours of sleep per day, and teenagers need nine to 10. These numbers seen attainable, but with hectic schedules and early wake-up times, sometimes they are impossible. More and more kids are using coffee to boost their energy levels during the day, but this could be a contributor to lack of sleep. Coffee is a stimulant that has five times more caffeine per serving than a soda, and caffeine can last in the body for up to eight hours, contributing to sleep loss, which only serves to perpetuate the cycle. It is best for children and teenagers to avoid coffee to boost energy levels.
Cavities: Coffee is acidic. Acidic drinks can cause damage in the mouth by weakening teeth; this leads to a decline in tooth enamel and an increase in cavities. Children are more prone to cavities than adults, as it takes years for new enamel to harden after baby teeth have been lost and adult teeth have come in. Children who drink coffee are more likely than adults to have oral health issues, such as cavities and loss of enamel.
Decreased Appetite: Coffee is a stimulant, which can lead to decreased appetite. Growing children need a balanced diet full of protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. When kids drink coffee, the stimulant effect is likely to lead to a decrease in appetite and a decline in overall nutrition.
Bone Loss: Coffee is a diuretic -- it increases urine production. Increased urination causes the loss of calcium from the body, which can lead to bone loss. In addition to being a diuretic, it also contains large amounts of caffeine that leach calcium from the body. For every 100 mg of caffeine ingested, 6 mg of calcium are lost. For children, calcium is essential for bone growth.
Hyperactivity: Coffee can create a host of behavioral problems in children, including hyperactivity, restlessness and inability to concentrate. This is because the caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that increases energy and alertness. While adults may benefit from this side effect, it can be damaging to school-aged children who are required to pay attention and sit still during instruction at school. The effects of caffeine can last for hours -- as long as an entire school day -- and can have negative effects on peer relations, studying and grades.I recently read a parenting article which notes Mayo Clinic recommendations for caffeine intake by children. In that article it states, "So what should you do if your 14-year-old asks for a latte? Moderation is key. Remember all the sources of caffeine in your child's diet (sodas, chocolate, tea) and make sure that he or she isn't getting too much... Learn about the sugar and fat content of your child's drinks, and suggest the 8-ounce drink instead of the monster-sized one. Make sure your child doesn't drink coffee less than 6 hours before bedtime."
Major health organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggest that children under the age of 12 years should not have caffeine. For children older than 12 years, caffeine intake should fall in the range of no more than 85 to 100 milligrams per day. As a example, one 12-ounce can of Pepsi contains about 38 milligrams of caffeine, and a 12-ounce Coke contains about 35 milligrams. According to the USDA, regular, brewed coffee contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup. This is based on average values of home-brewed and fast-food coffee.
Remember, caffeine is a stimulant — a naturally occurring one in coffee and tea and chocolate, but a drug nonetheless. Besides sparking mental alertness, it also increases heart rate and blood pressure and keeps you awake when maybe you should be sleeping. Sometimes it can cause agitation, stomach upset and heart palpitations.
From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),
Paul J. Staso
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Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek
Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
- Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
- Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
- Some Cycling Moments From The Past
