ISLAMABAD, June 02 (Online): Dozens of brands in a variety of flavors line store shelves and their wide availability makes them a convenient choice for anyone who feels they may need a quick pick-me-up.<\/p>\n
But as popular as these beverages have become, they can also pose significant health risks to adults and children alike due to the high amounts of caffeine they contain \u2014 which can vary widely from one brand to another.<\/p>\n
How much caffeine constitutes a \u201chigh amount?\u201d
\nTo answer that, let\u2019s set a baseline.<\/p>\n
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source, a typical carbonated 12 oz soft drink contains 30-40 mg of caffeine. (For ease of comparison, that\u2019s about 2.9 mg\/oz.)<\/p>\n
An 8 oz cup of green or black tea has 30-50 mg of caffeine (~5mg\/oz) while an 8 oz coffee can have 80-100 mg of caffeine (~11.25 mg\/oz).<\/p>\n
Some of the biggest brand-name energy drinks are in the same ballpark as coffee.<\/p>\n
An 8.4 oz can of Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine (~9.5 mg\/oz), and a 500 ml can of Monster has 160 mg of caffeine (~9.5 mg\/oz). These drinks also contain sugar.<\/p>\n
However, a newer drink called Prime Energy has substantially more caffeine than its counterparts, coming in at 200 mg in a 12 oz can (~16.7 mg\/oz).<\/p>\n
That\u2019s between 5-7 times the amount of caffeine as a similar serving of the average soft drink.<\/p>\n
Prime Energy, which was launched by popular YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI in 2022, has become particularly popular with teen and pre-teen boys \u2014 while raising concerns of school officials, parents, and health experts.
\nWhy?<\/p>\n
The amount of caffeine in these drinks can be extremely dangerous for some people, especially children who may have an undiagnosed heart condition.<\/p>\n
In fact, BirminghamLive recently reported that a child had a \u201ccardiac episode\u201d after consuming a can of Prime Energy and had to be rushed to the hospital to have their stomach pumped.<\/p>\n
This is one example of why many health experts are working to raise awareness of the dangers energy drinks can pose.<\/p>\n
What happens to your body when you drink caffeine
\nDr. Neal H. Patel, family medicine physician with Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, California, told Healthline, \u201cCaffeine is the world\u2019s most consumed stimulant. A stimulant does as the name applies: it stimulates the body and the mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caffeine does have some positive effects, which has led to its global popularity.<\/p>\n
Some of those positive effects that adults might experience, according to Patel, include:
\n\u2022\tincreased focus
\n\u2022\tincreased attention
\n\u2022\tdecreased fatigue
\n\u2022\tincreases metabolism
\n\u2022\televated mood<\/p>\n
These effects, however, can provide a false sense of what\u2019s going on in your body.<\/p>\n
A perception of heightened alertness is not the same as providing your body with fuel.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the term \u2018energy\u2019 can be perceived to imply calories, \u2018energy\u2019 drink is a misnomer; energy drinks often contain little fuel (i.e. carbohydrates) but provide an energized sensation when the energy drink is consumed due to the stimulants,\u201d explained Dr. Tracy Zaslow, a board-certified pediatrician, and pediatric sports medicine specialist at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
The negative effects of caffeine on adults<\/p>\n
While many adults are able to have a healthy relationship with caffeine, there are some risks involved with consuming too much of it, especially in a single serving.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exact threshold for what constitutes \u2018too much\u2019 caffeine can vary depending on individual factors such as tolerance, sensitivity, and overall health,\u201d Jordan Hill, a registered dietitian and sports dietetics specialist with Top Nutrition Coaching, told Healthline.<\/p>\n
According to Hill, some of the negative effects associated with caffeine include:
\n\u2022\tinsomnia and sleep disturbances
\n\u2022\tjitteriness and restlessness
\n\u2022\tdigestive issues
\n\u2022\tincreased heart rate and blood pressure
\n\u2022\tdehydration
\n\u2022\tdependency and withdrawal symptoms
\n\u2022\tinterference with certain medications and health conditions<\/p>\n
The negative effects caffeine can have on children
\nWhile the long-term effects of caffeine on children is an area that could benefit from more research, recommendations from experts are pretty clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cPediatricians advise against caffeine for children under 12 and against any use of energy drinks for all children and teens. They also suggest limiting caffeine to at most 100 mg (about two 12 oz cans of cola) daily for those 12-18 years old,\u201d said Zaslow.
\n\u201cThere are concerns about caffeine\u2019s effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems.<\/p>\n
Sleep is essential in young adults and adolescents, and caffeine consumption has been shown to disrupt sleep patterns. There is also risk of physical dependence,\u201d Zaslow added.
\nCaffeine\u2019s effects on children are not limited to the purely physical, either.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny added and external substance introduced to the system of an adolescent, teenager, or young adult can adversely impact their development emotionally and mentally,\u201d said Patel.
\nZaslow shared with Healthline that, \u201ccaffeine can increase anxiety in those with anxiety disorders.\u201d
\nWhile some children may tolerate limited amounts of caffeine with limited side effects, the high amounts in energy drinks come with a variety of potentially negative outcomes.<\/p>\n
Some of the short-term risks of caffeine consumption in children include:
\n\u2022\tanxiety
\n\u2022\tdehydration
\n\u2022\tdiarrhea
\n\u2022\theart palpitations
\n\u2022\thigh blood pressure
\n\u2022\tinsomnia
\n\u2022\tjitters
\n\u2022\tnausea
\n\u2022\trestlessness<\/p>\n
Long-term side effects can include withdrawal symptoms like headaches and agitation. In very severe and rare cases, death can occur from overconsumption of caffeine,\u201d said Hill.<\/p>\n
What can you do to help reduce risks
\nHealth experts say talking to your child can be an important first step toward helping them make healthy choices around caffeine and help them understand the various potential risks that different types of drinks can pose.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnergy drinks should not be confused with sports drinks,\u201d advised Zaslow.<\/p>\n
\u201cSports drinks are flavored beverages that often contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes (eg, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium), and sometimes vitamins or other nutrients. Energy drinks are beverages that typically contain stimulants, such as caffeine and guarana, with varying amounts of carbohydrate, protein, amino acids, vitamins, sodium, and other minerals,\u201d Zaslow added.<\/p>\n
Hill pointed out that individual responses to caffeine can vary, and some people may be more sensitive to its effects than others.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaying attention to your own body\u2019s response and adjusting your caffeine consumption accordingly can help you manage potential crashes and ensure a balanced and healthy relationship with caffeine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything comes down to moderation and if one has some of the side effects or thinks has a problem with caffeine, it\u2019s wise to contact your primary care provider,\u201d said Patel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, June 02 (Online): Dozens of brands in a variety of flavors line store shelves and their wide availability makes them a convenient choice for anyone who feels they may need a quick pick-me-up. But as popular as these beverages have become, they can also […]<\/p>\n
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