Kids and Coffee: A Growing and Unhealthy Trend
Kids and Coffee: A Growing and Unhealthy Trend
Americans consume a whopping 400 million cups of coffee a day and coffee's newest consumers aren't 9-hour-a-day office workers, but children, teens and young adults.
One out of 3 young adults is a regular coffee drinker, the "Today" show reported Monday. Throw in some sugar, some ice, chocolate sauce and whip cream and forget the young adult, it's the teens and 'tweens that are reaching for these caffeinated beverages.
In fact the fastest growing group of coffee drinkers is comprised of teenagers and young adults, according to the National Coffee Association.
"Kids are really overscheduled these days," Dr. Roshini, Raj, an associate professor of NYU told the "Today" show. "They have so many extracurricular activities, plus their homework. They're looking for ways to stay awake."
But is all this caffeine healthy? We've heard the stories about caffeine stunting growth and being addictive. But NBC's chief medical correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman says the harm from kids drinking too many coffee drinks is more basic.
"The caffeine alone isn't going to hurt you unless it revs you up, gives you insomnia, makes you're a little nervous," she told Matt Lauer. "The caffeine effect is a little more concentrated in kids and we know that if you and I stop drinking coffee, we get headaches. So kids may present with a headache and not even know why."
The biggest problem, however, is that children and teens aren't reaching for that cup of black coffee. They prefer the so-called mochaccinos and Starbuck's Frappuccinos, which are loaded with sugar and calories. In fact, some of these drinks can have more than double the empty calories of soda.
"Herein lies the real danger," Snyderman said. "In an obesity-troubled society ... you can easily have a 400- or 600-calorie drink [and] if it tastes good and it's sweet and it's filled with fat, you may be better off just having a chocolate milkshake, which, frankly, gives you more calcium. We're looking at a lot of empty calories and ... that's where the nutritional concerns come from."
Snyderman recommended the following tips for parents when it comes to kids and coffee drinks:
-- Don't buy coffee drinks on a regular basis. Make it a once or twice a week treat -- "like ice cream." And never use them as an after-dinner treat, as the caffeine may cause insomnia.
-- Be a healthy role model. Don't tell your children not to drink a lot of coffee when they see you consuming four cups of java a day.
-- Encourage healthier options, such as a little bit of juice.
One out of 3 young adults is a regular coffee drinker, the "Today" show reported Monday. Throw in some sugar, some ice, chocolate sauce and whip cream and forget the young adult, it's the teens and 'tweens that are reaching for these caffeinated beverages.
In fact the fastest growing group of coffee drinkers is comprised of teenagers and young adults, according to the National Coffee Association.
"Kids are really overscheduled these days," Dr. Roshini, Raj, an associate professor of NYU told the "Today" show. "They have so many extracurricular activities, plus their homework. They're looking for ways to stay awake."
But is all this caffeine healthy? We've heard the stories about caffeine stunting growth and being addictive. But NBC's chief medical correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman says the harm from kids drinking too many coffee drinks is more basic.
"The caffeine alone isn't going to hurt you unless it revs you up, gives you insomnia, makes you're a little nervous," she told Matt Lauer. "The caffeine effect is a little more concentrated in kids and we know that if you and I stop drinking coffee, we get headaches. So kids may present with a headache and not even know why."
The biggest problem, however, is that children and teens aren't reaching for that cup of black coffee. They prefer the so-called mochaccinos and Starbuck's Frappuccinos, which are loaded with sugar and calories. In fact, some of these drinks can have more than double the empty calories of soda.
"Herein lies the real danger," Snyderman said. "In an obesity-troubled society ... you can easily have a 400- or 600-calorie drink [and] if it tastes good and it's sweet and it's filled with fat, you may be better off just having a chocolate milkshake, which, frankly, gives you more calcium. We're looking at a lot of empty calories and ... that's where the nutritional concerns come from."
Snyderman recommended the following tips for parents when it comes to kids and coffee drinks:
-- Don't buy coffee drinks on a regular basis. Make it a once or twice a week treat -- "like ice cream." And never use them as an after-dinner treat, as the caffeine may cause insomnia.
-- Be a healthy role model. Don't tell your children not to drink a lot of coffee when they see you consuming four cups of java a day.
-- Encourage healthier options, such as a little bit of juice.
