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Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and other food and drinks. How Does Caffeine Affect People?Caffeine is classified as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. It can make people feel more alert and energetic, and has similar effects in kids and adults. Foods and drinks with caffeine are everywhere, but it's wise to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, especially in younger kids. In both kids and adults, too much caffeine can cause:
Especially in young kids, it doesn't take a lot of caffeine to produce these effects. What Other Problems Can Happen?Here are some other reasons to limit kids' caffeine consumption:
What Is Caffeine Sensitivity?Caffeine sensitivity refers to the amount of caffeine that will cause an effect in someone. Caffeine sensitivity is mostly related to daily caffeine intake, but the smaller the person, the less caffeine is needed to produce side effects. Kids are more sensitive to caffeine than adults. People who regularly drink beverages containing caffeine soon become less sensitive to it. This means they need more caffeine to achieve the same effects as someone who drinks less caffeine. So, the more caffeine you get, the more caffeine you’ll need to feel the same effects. The effects of caffeine last up to 6 hours. What Foods and Drinks Have Caffeine?Caffeine is naturally produced in the leaves and seeds of many plants. It's also made artificially and added to some foods. Kids get most of their caffeine from sodas, but it's also found in energy drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate, coffee ice cream, and some pain relievers and other over-the-counter medicines. Here's how some sources of caffeine compare:
Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Soft Drink Association How Can We Cut Back On Caffeine?Can you keep kids caffeine-free? Absolutely! The best way to cut caffeine (and added sugar) is to eliminate soda, iced tea, energy drinks, and coffee drinks. Instead, offer water, milk, or flavored seltzer. You can still allow the occasional soda or tea — just make it decaffeinated. Watch for hidden caffeine by checking the ingredient list on foods and beverages. If your child consumes a lot of caffeine, cut back slowly. Otherwise, they can get headaches, have trouble concentrating, and feel tired, irritable, or depressed. URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html
Caffeine is a bitter substance that occurs naturally in more than 60 plants including: There is also synthetic (man-made) caffeine, which is added to some medicines, foods, and drinks. For example, some pain relievers, cold medicines, and over-the-counter medicines for alertness contain synthetic caffeine. So do energy drinks and "energy-boosting" gums and snacks. Most people consume caffeine from drinks. The amount of caffeine in different drinks can vary a lot, but it is generally:
What are caffeine's effects on the body?Caffeine has many effects on your body's metabolism. It:
Within one hour of eating or drinking caffeine, it reaches its peak level in your blood. You may continue to feel the effects of caffeine for four to six hours. What are the side effects from too much caffeine?For most people, it is not harmful to consume up to 400mg of caffeine a day. If you do eat or drink too much caffeine, it can cause health problems, such as: Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others. What are energy drinks, and why can they be a problem?Energy drinks are beverages that have added caffeine. The amount of caffeine in energy drinks can vary widely, and sometimes the labels on the drinks do not give you the actual amount of caffeine in them. Energy drinks may also contain sugars, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Companies that make energy drinks claim that the drinks can increase alertness and improve physical and mental performance. This has helped make the drinks popular with American teens and young adults. There's limited data showing that energy drinks might temporarily improve alertness and physical endurance. There is not enough evidence to show that they enhance strength or power. But what we do know is that energy drinks can be dangerous because they have large amounts of caffeine. And since they have lots of sugar, they can contribute to weight gain and worsen diabetes. Sometimes young people mix their energy drinks with alcohol. It is dangerous to combine alcohol and caffeine. Caffeine can interfere with your ability to recognize how drunk you are, which can lead you to drink more. This also makes you more likely to make bad decisions. Who should avoid or limit caffeine?You should check with your health care provider about whether you should limit or avoid caffeine if you:
What is caffeine withdrawal?If you have been consuming caffeine on a regular basis and then suddenly stop, you may have caffeine withdrawal. Symptoms can include:
These symptoms usually go away after a couple of days.
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