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| Vol. 24, No. 15 |
| August 15, 2002 |
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Decaffeinate Your Kids By ELISA CHEN Baylor College of Medicine Today’s kids are besieged with advertising for caffeine-loaded drinks such as colas, flavored teas and "power" drinks. "The availability of caffeine products and drinks has increased," said Joan Carter, instructor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "A broader variety of caffeinated beverages, larger servings, and unaware parents can all result in more caffeine consumption." Kids and teenagers receive a great deal of their caffeine intake from such products as carbonated sodas, chocolate, flavored teas, coffee drinks, and over-the-counter medications. Although caffeine is not addictive, kids can develop a dependence on it, said Carter, also a registered dietitian at the Children’s Nutrition Research Center, a USDA facility administered by Baylor and Texas Children’s Hospital. "Kids who develop a caffeine habit over the summer can find themselves having a harder time with sleeping habits and attention span in class when school starts," said Carter. Other effects include irritability, headaches, frequent mood changes, nervousness, and a temporary rise in heart rate. Because many kids now consume larger servings of caffeinated colas and chocolate drinks rather than fresh fruit juices or milk, weight can also become a problem. "Kids are encouraged to consume no more than 45 to 50 milligrams of caffeine a day equal to one 12-ounce soda," said Carter. "The problem is that most kids drink more than one soda per day." Parents can follow these tips to help limit their child’s caffeine intake:
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/08_15_02/page_13.html |