Caffeinated Kids

Posted on | March 4, 2008 | Comments Off on Caffeinated Kids

From energy drinks to caffeine-laced candy, it’s easier than ever for kids to catch a caffeine buzz.

Candy sales are crashing and manufacturers have just the thing to give confections a “pick me up” – caffeine. It’s not surprising considering the data.

Sales of sugar confectionary dropped by 4% from 2001 to 2006, while energy-drink sales rose by more than 400% to $3.23 billion in the period, according to market researcher Mintel.

So, why not add caffeine to candy and see if it can sell like energy drinks? Of course, that’s what manufacturers will try. It’s their job to make money. But it’s parents’ job to know the pros and cons of caffeine and make a decision on what they will allow their kids to have. I hope this blog post helps you in that endeavor.

First, get the facts:

The recommended minimum amount of caffeine kids should consume per day is ZERO.

That’s because caffeine is not a nutrient, it’s a compound that stimulates the central nervous system when ingested. Caffeine is classified as a psychoactive drug, but it is not a controlled substance so it is legal.

In a spectrum of drugs, caffeine’s effects are more mild than amphetamines, cocaine and heroin, but it is manipulating the same channels, and that is one of the things that gives caffeine its addictive qualities. Other forms of caffeine include guaranine, mateine or theine.

Caffeine is widespread in the food supply since it is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and colas. It is also added artificially to a variety of foods and beverages, much like these new caffeinated candies.

In small amounts, caffeine has beneficial effects of improving alertness and decreasing fatigue. But there are undesirable effects of consuming too much, including insomnia, restlessness, irritability, nervousness, headaches, hand tremors, extra heartbeats and an inability to concentrate.

Compared to the general adult population, children are at increased risk for possible behavioral effects from caffeine.

Children are smaller and a little caffeine goes a long way.

So how much is too much?

Unfortunately, it depends on the person because everyone handles caffeine differently. But there are some guidelines:

For children age 12 and under, a maximum daily caffeine intake of no more than 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight is recommended.

Here are the numbers based on weight averages:

* 45 mg for children aged 4 – 6;
* 62.5 mg for children aged 7 – 9; and
* 85 mg for children aged 10 – 12

Consuming candy and cola on a regular basis can push kids over these limits. And what about these caffeinated chocolates? Well, the news is not good.

For example, one Snickers Charged bar (65 mg) and a 20 oz Mountain Dew (90 mg) gives 155 mg caffeine. That’s 187% of the recommended limit of caffeine for a 10-12 year old! Replace the Dew with a Coke and the number drops only slightly to about 120 mg of caffeine.

The caffeine numbers can add up quickly and your child could experience negative effects like restlessness and insomnia.

From a nutrition standpoint, the candy and soda offers very little of value to the diet anyway, just some empty calories. These calories can contribute to weight gain or they can replace the calories that should come from more nutritious foods. In addition, caffeine can cause the body to lose calcium – just what your growing children don’t need.

For every 150mg of caffeine, the body loses 5mg calcium. My advice to parents is to do what you always do — monitor and control, especially if you suspect caffeine may be contributing to sleep or behavioral problems in your kids.

Don’t let your kids get fooled by the sleek marketing of the buzz-inducing, caffeine-spiked candy. Chocolate already has enough on it’s own. Allow a small amount of chocolate (one ounce) or caffeine-free regular or diet soda (6-8 ounces) as an occasional treat. Trail mix, chocolate chip granola bars or chocolate flavored graham crackers are healthier alternatives to candy bars.

Chocolate milk is a two-for…Have 1% chocolate milk available for a treat. Your child will get a delicious and nutritious taste of chocolate and the added calcium to make up for any losses.

Finally, here’s a CSPI list (Center for Science in the Public Interest) of common foods with caffeine and the amount per serving to give you a starting point to estimate caffeine intake.