Introduction Caffeine is arguably the world’s most widely used stimulant, it is a big part of the average person’s morning. Coffee and tea are two caffeinated beverages that are commonly enjoyed around the world daily. Many teens in Canada claim that they cannot start their day without a cup of coffee, a Red Bull or an Awake bar (a brand of chocolate bar infused with extra caffeine). Given the amount of caffeine in these and many other products that adolescents consume daily. As well as the adverse health effects that have been shown to present themselves due to heavy caffeine use in teens. This ritual of a morning dose of caffeine might provide short-term benefits, however, the negative long and short term effects can far outweigh them.
…show more content…
It can be purchased in hot beverages like coffee or tea, cold beverages like soda and energy drinks, foods such as chocolate, and even in pill and powder form. These products contain a large range of caffeine content. Red Bull contains 83 milligrams of caffeine per 8.4 ounces. Other brands of energy drinks, such as Full Throttle have a caffeine content of 210 milligrams per 8 ounces. (DeNoon, Daniel J. "How Much Caffeine Is in Your Energy Drink?" WebMD) While the amount of pure caffeine might seem reasonable compared to some products offered by coffee chains, such as Starbucks, where a Grande (16 ounces) Caffe Americano can contain up to 225 milligrams of caffeine. Energy drinks tend to contain other ingredients such as guarana, from which even more caffeine can be extracted, as well as other forms of caffeine may be present in these drinks. Many statistics claim that energy drinks are one of the most widely consumed caffeinated products by teens. “Energy drinks are available in over 140 countries and are the fastest growing US beverage market; in 2011, sales are expected to top $9 billion. Half of the energy drink market consists of children (< 12 years old), adolescents (12–18 years old), and young adults (19–25 years old.” (Seifert, Sara M., Judith L. Schaechter, Eugene R. Hershorin, and Steven E. Lipshultz. "Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults." Pediatrics. American …show more content…
Many studies have shown that excessive caffeine use (400 to 600 mg) at a young age can have a variety of adverse health effects. Examples of these side effects may include agitation, anxiety, shakiness, rapid heart rate and headaches. These are some of the less harmful negative effects that prolonged caffeine abuse can cause. Caffeine use can also lead to issues with a teens sleeping pattern, which can have various adverse effects of their own, as it is possible for caffeine to stay in the body for up to 14 hours (“Health Concerns of Caffeine Consumption by Teens.” Newport Academy). It is also very possible for adolescents to overdose on caffeine, signs of which may include confusion, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors and even hallucinations (“Health Concerns of Caffeine Consumption by Teens.” Newport
It can be purchased in hot beverages like coffee or tea, cold beverages like soda and energy drinks, foods such as chocolate, and even in pill and powder form. These products contain a large range of caffeine content. Red Bull contains 83 milligrams of caffeine per 8.4 ounces. Other brands of energy drinks, such as Full Throttle have a caffeine content of 210 milligrams per 8 ounces. (DeNoon, Daniel J. "How Much Caffeine Is in Your Energy Drink?" WebMD) While the amount of pure caffeine might seem reasonable compared to some products offered by coffee chains, such as Starbucks, where a Grande (16 ounces) Caffe Americano can contain up to 225 milligrams of caffeine. Energy drinks tend to contain other ingredients such as guarana, from which even more caffeine can be extracted, as well as other forms of caffeine may be present in these drinks. Many statistics claim that energy drinks are one of the most widely consumed caffeinated products by teens. “Energy drinks are available in over 140 countries and are the fastest growing US beverage market; in 2011, sales are expected to top $9 billion. Half of the energy drink market consists of children (< 12 years old), adolescents (12–18 years old), and young adults (19–25 years old.” (Seifert, Sara M., Judith L. Schaechter, Eugene R. Hershorin, and Steven E. Lipshultz. "Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults." Pediatrics. American …show more content…
Many studies have shown that excessive caffeine use (400 to 600 mg) at a young age can have a variety of adverse health effects. Examples of these side effects may include agitation, anxiety, shakiness, rapid heart rate and headaches. These are some of the less harmful negative effects that prolonged caffeine abuse can cause. Caffeine use can also lead to issues with a teens sleeping pattern, which can have various adverse effects of their own, as it is possible for caffeine to stay in the body for up to 14 hours (“Health Concerns of Caffeine Consumption by Teens.” Newport Academy). It is also very possible for adolescents to overdose on caffeine, signs of which may include confusion, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors and even hallucinations (“Health Concerns of Caffeine Consumption by Teens.” Newport