Note These 6 Things Before Giving Caffeinated Beverages to Children

Caffeine is known to be rich in antioxidants which are anti-cancer and nourish the organs of the adult heart. But whether caffeine consumption also have the same benefits for children, or even more negative effects?

Consumption of caffeinated beverages is generally safe for adults or children, as long as the caffeine levels are not too high. The content of caffeine in coffee or tea is still in a secure portion, if consumed in moderate amounts and not excessive.

While high levels of caffeine typically found in soda or energy drinks. Caffeine levels that are too high are known to cause addiction, obesity, insomnia, and gastrointestinal disorders in adults.

As reported by the Health, Friday (02/01/2013), six things parents need to know about caffeine and its effects on the health of the child as follows:

1. It has no nutritional value of food

Caffeine does not contain nutritional foods, such as protein or fat, which will not help meet the nutritional needs of children. Conversely, caffeine contains a psychoactive stimulant that affects chemicals in the brain.

It can interfere with neurological development and can lead to abnormalities in behavior and socialization.

2. Caffeine can cause physical dependence

If your child has been addicted to caffeine and try to kick the habit, the child may experience withdrawal symptoms for up to 10 days. The caffeine withdrawal symptoms including headache, drowsiness or insomnia, irritability, lethargy, constipation, or depression.

3. Caffeinated beverage products often contain large amounts of sugar

Natural Caffeine has a bitter taste, so most products caffeinated beverages with sugar added to suit the tastes of children. Sugar is also a source of calories that can lead to overweight and obesity.

The combination of high levels of caffeine and sugar can also lead to addiction or dependence through different pathways.

4. Caffeine does not increase the energy in children

Caffeine may be a healthy choice for adults to increase energy, but the effect does not occur in children. It can actually inhibit the perception of fatigue by stimulating arousal and alertness brain, which can lead to uncontrolled behavior like rampage.

Children are not able to control the condition in which the body was too tired but the brain is still alert, so this makes it frustrating and irritable.

5. No provision of a safe amount of caffeine consumed by children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, energy drinks that contain high levels of caffeine, should be completely avoided by children. Until now there has been no provision for safe recommended levels of caffeine consumption by children.

Consumption of caffeine in low levels or less than 100 mg per day are safe for consumption by the possibility of the children, but it also depends on the size and weight of children.

6. Caffeine can trigger insomnia

Drinking energy drinks that contain high caffeine may increase the child's alertness while in school and on the sports field. However, one study showed that about 90 percent of high school students reported having trouble sleeping at night after consuming caffeinated beverages.