Why caffeine is bad for kids

So that begs the question: If caffeine can cause these side effects in adults, how much more can it negatively affect children and adolescents? Though adults can safely consume up to mg of caffeine per day, according to the Mayo Clinic, kids and teens age should limit their intake to mg per day. According to a national survey in published in the journal Pediatrics by the AAP, 73 percent of U. Energy drinks should be monitored closely. The amount of caffeine can vary depending on the product, but the APP reports that some energy drinks have more than mg of caffeine, which is equal to 14 cans of a caffeinated soft drink.

The widespread popularity and acceptance of these drinks being used by youth can make it difficult to stop their use. But regular ingestion of high amounts of caffeine can have harmful effects on the developing mind of these young people. The effects of caffeine on adults have been widely studied.

However, the research that has been done has raised valid concerns about the negative effects it has on their development. Caffeine changes your body temperature and your gastric juices. It changes how attentive you are, and can really cause trouble in terms of sleep.

Then there's moods. For some people, caffeine enhances their moods. For others it makes it worse. For kids who have some anxiety, and it may even be under control in normal conditions, caffeine can really increase anxiety. Caffeine is a stimulant, and therefore it may change their appetite. Adolescents gain half of their adult weight in their teenage years.

If caffeine curbs their appetite in some way it could affect their growth. A lot of the issue for kids is all the energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster. These drinks are full of other components. There's guarana, which is a plant extract and each gram of guarana is equal to 40 milligrams of caffeine as a stimulant. There's another protein called taurine, which potentiates the effect of caffeine.

It's not really good for them. As far as the FDA goes, there are no current guidelines for caffeine consumption. But the Canadian government has some guidelines.

Youth with certain health conditions such as heart problems, seizures, or migraines may be more at risk for caffeine-related problems than others. Even without overdose, others experience problems with long term use. Some risks associated with long-term caffeine use may include:. Children view advertising for caffeinated products on many different platforms, and they are also watching how their parents and friends use caffeine.

It is best for parents to educate their children about common sources of caffeine and how to read food and drink labels. There is no proven safe dose of caffeine for children. It's also made artificially and added to certain foods. Kids get most of their caffeine from sodas, but it's also found in coffee, tea, chocolate, coffee ice cream or frozen yogurt, as well as pain relievers and other over-the-counter medicines.

Even iced tea can contain as much sugar and caffeine as soda. Can you keep kids caffeine-free? The best way to cut caffeine and added sugar is to eliminate soda. You can still allow the occasional soda or tea — just make it decaffeinated. Watch for hidden caffeine by checking the ingredient list on foods and beverages. The best way to reduce caffeine intake is to cut back slowly. Otherwise, kids and adults could get headaches and feel achy, depressed, or just downright lousy.

Someone cutting back on caffeine may feel tired.