| It is pretty common to see young children and | | | | of children and teenagers are a blend of different |
| teenagers drinking coffee, pop and energy drinks | | | | forms of caffeine, sugar and other herbs. The |
| these days. Some teens are addicted to the | | | | Medical Director from the Center of Integrative |
| caffeine and can't seem to get through the day | | | | Medicine at the Encino-Tarzan Regional Medical |
| without their 'buzz'. Along with being an addictive | | | | Center says, "It just becomes more of a witches |
| drug, there are many other problems that | | | | brew. You're playing with things we don't really |
| caffeine poses to a young person's health. It is | | | | understand and the longterm consequences are |
| dangerous to young people's developing brains, | | | | unclear." |
| first of all. It can also cause insomnia, restlessness, | | | | Also, not to be overlooked, the companies who |
| high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, heart | | | | market energy drinks to kids are sending the |
| palpitations, anxiety, headaches and adrenal | | | | message that kids need these drinks to get a |
| exhaustion. | | | | buzz, to get through the day, to feel differently |
| While Mountain Dew contains 55 milligrams of | | | | or to get a boost. Children are learning to rely on |
| caffeine in a 12 ounce serving, one 8 ounce | | | | drugs and other substances to feel good. Many |
| serving of Monster has 75 milligrams of caffeine | | | | kids, instead of eating well, exercising or getting |
| and a 16 ounce SoBe Adrenaline Rush includes 152 | | | | enough sleep are falling right into the same |
| milligrams of caffeine. Because many of the cans | | | | patterns many adults have, which in turn |
| for these drinks have gotten larger, kids are | | | | contribute to serious health issues. We have no |
| getting 2-3 times the caffeine listed on the label. | | | | idea what the short- or long-term health |
| In addition to the problems associated with the | | | | consequences of drinking energy drinks is for |
| caffeine in energy drinks, the amount of sugar | | | | young people, but we can imagine they are not |
| per serving is staggering. The average energy | | | | good. |
| drink has 28-40 grams of sugar. That is 7-10 | | | | As parents, we want our kids to be healthy and |
| packets of sugar. Because sugar is implicated in | | | | happy. We need to make parenting decisions that |
| health issues ranging from depressed immune | | | | promote good health for our children . Energy |
| systems to obesity to diabetes to cancer, kids | | | | drinks are not a 'treat' and young children should |
| drinking these energy drinks are severely | | | | not be offered these drinks at parties or on |
| compromising their health. The neuro-toxins that | | | | special occasions; and say no to teenagers who |
| come along with sugar-free versions, in the form | | | | want to drink them at home or in your presence, |
| of artificial sweeteners, are like poison to the | | | | while educating them about the health |
| brain. | | | | consequences of drinking energy drinks. |
| Many of the energy drinks you find in the hands | | | | |