Teens and Caffeine

February 26, 2006 The Love of Caffeine Caffeine is a compound found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of several plants, most commonly tea, coffee, cacao and kola trees. Thousands of years ago, Chinese Emperor, Shen Nung, accidentally created the first brewed tea when leaves of the plant fell into a pot of boiling water. In the 6th century BC, spiritual leader, Lao-tzu recommended tea to his early disciples. Coffee is believed to have originated in Africa around 575 AD. The coffee beans were used as a food source and traded as "money." By the early 1800s, coffee shops were beginning to become popular in Europe. During this time, the first caffeinated soft drinks were developed. Today, research shows the major source of caffeine for adults in the U.S. is coffee. According to the Coffee Research Institute, Americans consume 3.1 cups of coffee a day and spend an average of $164.71/year on the beverage. The major source of caffeine for teens is soft drinks. Effects of Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant that is often consumed to enhance alertness and concentration. Concentration of caffeine peaks in the blood within 30 to 60 minutes after the first sip and the effects last about four to six hours. Moderate consumption of caffeine is considered to be about 200-300 mg. (about the equivalent of 2-3 cups). Drinking too much caffeine (especially for people who dont normally consume much) can cause nervousness, anxiety, sleep problems and a temporary increase in heart rate. Excess consumption may increase the risk of headache and elevated blood pressure. The amount of caffeine in drinks varies greatly. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 65 to 120 mg. of caffeine. However, some coffees may contain as much as 250 mg. of caffeine. A one-ounce serving of espresso contains about 30 to 50 mg. of caffeine. By comparison, a cup of decaf coffee (which is really not caffeine-free) contains 2 to 40 mg. of caffeine. An eight-ounce cup of brewed tea contains 20 to 90 mg. of caffeine. Iced tea tends to have less caffeine, ranging from 24 to 31 mg. of caffeine for an 8-ounce glass. Hot chocolate (8 ounces) contains 3 to 32 mg. of caffeine and a glass of chocolate milk contains 2 to 7 mg. A one-ounce serving of milk chocolate contains about 1 to 15 mg. of caffeine, while dark, semi-sweet chocolate has 5 to 35 mg. "Caffeinated" Teens Many children consume large amounts of caffeinated beverages. For some, sodas are the main beverage in their diet. But teens are also getting hooked on coffee drinks. Coffee is made more palatable to teens because many of the specialty drinks contain flavors, sugar and cream. Some experts are concerned about the amount of caffeine being consumed by many American teens. Some use coffee as a substitute for meals and may be limiting the amounts of important nutrients in their diets. Add the sugars and cream and teens are getting a lot of extra calories and fat. Caffeine is a mild diuretic, which means it increases urine output. If consumed in excess amounts without fluid replacement, it could lead to dehydration (especially in hot weather). Registered Dietitian, Beth Underkoffler, R.D., says calcium is also lost in urine. So theoretically, children who have too much caffeine may be at risk for bone loss. Small to moderate amounts of caffeine are probably not a problem for most children (although some report having sleep problems when drinking caffeine too close to bedtime). Experts generally recommend teens get no more than 100 mg of caffeine a day. Parents who are concerned about their children getting too much caffeine should monitor the amount of caffeinated beverages consumed. Encourage use of low-fat dairy products instead of whole milk or cream in coffee and tea. Slowly make the switch to decaf products. Be aware that some specialty coffee drinks served at upscale shops are premixed and cant be made with decaf coffees. AUDIENCE INQUIRY For information about caffeine or coffee: American Dietetic Association, http://www.eatright.org Coffee Research Institute, http://www.coffeeresearch.org International Food Information Council, http://www.ific.org National Coffee Association of U.S.A., Inc., http://www.ncausa.org Specialty Coffee Association of America, http://www.scaa.org BIBLIOGRAPHY "Caffeine and Womens Health," Washington, DC: International Food Information Council, downloaded from website (http://www.ific.org), February 1, 2006. "The Caffeine Corner," Nutrition Action Health Letter, December 1996, downloaded from website (http://www.cspinet.org/nah), February 1, 2006. "Coffee History," Austin: Coffee Research Institute, downloaded from website (http://www.coffeeresearch.org), February 1, 2006. "Consumption in the United States," Austin: Coffee Research Institute, downloaded from website (http://www.coffeeresearch.org), February 1, 2006. Dorea, J., and T. da Costa, "Is Coffee a Functional Food?" 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