by: Anushka Sethi
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance in coffee beans, guarana seeds, kola nuts, tea leaves, cacao pods, and many other plants.
When consumed, it acts as a psychoactive drug, meaning it alters the state of mind. More specifically, it stimulates the nervous system, making one feel more alert.
USAGE WITHIN TEENS
Statistics show that adolescents are the fastest-growing population of caffeine users. 83.2% of teenagers consume caffeinated beverages regularly, and at least 96% consume them occasionally.
ASPECTS THAT FACILITATE CAFFEINE USAGE AMONG TEENS
1. Easy access: Caffeine is easily accessible. Most adolescents consume caffeine, whether it’s an occasional cup of coffee or a regular energy drink
2. Validation among peer groups: There’s also a social element to caffeine’s popularity with teens. Many adolescents enjoy meeting friends for a coffee or soda.
3. Parental role modeling: As parents commonly drink coffee in the morning, and many offer it to their children, it appears to be safe and acceptable.
4. Media and advertising: including brand image, celebrity endorsement and advertising on TV and at sports events, encourage consumption. Social norms also play a role, as adolescents either want to feel included or they are curious to try a friend’s new drink.
THE CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR AND PATTERNS
Researchers from Brescia University College in Ontario, Canada, wanted to explore adolescents’ attitudes and beliefs regarding caffeinated beverages and to establish which factors influenced their choice of beverage and consumption patterns.{ Turton 2015)
Even moderate doses of 100-400 mg can cause symptoms in children and adolescents. However, Prior studies show that many adolescents are consuming 60-800 mg per day.
Findings of Researchers from Brescia University College in Ontario, Canada showed that 44.6% of respondents drank caffeinated beverages one to six times per week, 11.4% consumed a caffeinated beverage every day, and only 4.8% never consumed drinks containing caffeine.
Adolescents aged 12 to 18 should cap daily caffeine intake at 100 mg (the equivalent of about one cup of coffee, one to two cups of tea, or two to three cans of soda).
BENEFITS
Natural stimulant: Caffeine acts as a stimulant by activating the central nervous system (CNS). It can counteract tiredness and improve concentration and focus.
Protective effect: A 2019 review found that consuming a moderate amount of caffeine has a protective effect against liver cancer. {Tsugane, 2019)
In 2013,World Journal of Biological Psychiatry suggested that drinking between 2–4 cups of coffee a day may reduce suicide risk in teens.{Lucas,(2013)
ADVERSE EFFECTS
Several unwanted side effects of consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine per day, including Anxiety, agitation, restlessness, sleeping problems, tremors, caffeine intoxication, acts as a diuretic, causing the body to get rid of water.{Cappelletti, 2015).
But with regular ingestion, individuals generally develop some level of tolerance and will need higher doses to get the same benefit of alertness. Abrupt cessation can lead to withdrawal symptoms of headaches, irritability and drowsiness.
In fact, it has been proven that students who stayed up late drinking caffeinated beverages and studying or using the computer had problems with concentration at school during the day.
Rob M. Van Dam, adjunct associate professor of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, stated that the effects of caffeine depend on individual genetic characteristics and other lifestyle factors i.e. Some people may have difficulty sleeping or experience tremors or stress with relatively low caffeine intakes, and it is useful to be aware of these symptoms and reduce caffeine intake if these occur.
ALTERNATIVES
● An ice-cold glass of water really does help you feel more awake. Oftentimes dehydration can make you tired, which means water will do the exact opposite. Plus, cold water first thing in the morning can make one feel refreshed, like a cool spring.
● B Vitamins. Fatigue, irritability, poor concentration, anxiety and depression are all associated with a Vitamin B deficiency. B Vitamins can be found naturally in certain foods such as fish, eggs, dairy, and fortified non-dairy milks.
● Light exercise, including walking. Exercising is a great way to wake your body up from a slump, which means recess and after-school sports are vital to helping students stay alert.
RESOURCES
● Felman, Adam,2019,Is caffeine bad for you?,Medical news
● Joy,kevin,2017,Parents, Perk Up to the Dangers of Caffeine for Teens,
michiganmedicine,https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/parents-perk-dangers-caffeine -teens
● 2015,The surprising effects of caffeine on students and teens,student help, Magnus Health, https://magnushealth.com/insights-effects-of-caffeine-on-students-and-teens/
● Brazier,Yvette,2016,Adolescents drink too much caffeine, medical news
● Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane,2019,Coffee Drinking and Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer: Update on Epidemiological Findings and Potential
Mechanisms,pubmed,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30977056/#full-view-affiliation-1
● Lucas, M., O’Reilly, E. J., Pan, A., Mirzaei, F., Willett, W. C., Okereke, O. I., & Ascherio, A. (2013). Coffee, caffeine, and risk of completed suicide: Results from three prospective cohorts of American adults. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry,
Comments