Caffeinated drinks are harmful to the growth of teenagers, and the British and new governments suggest that consumption be reduced or even avoided.

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Caffeine (Caffeine) is known to be refreshing, and caffeine is found in many drinks, such as coffee, refreshing drinks, tea, and even sodas. However, the bodies of children and adolescents are in the stage of development, and excessive caffeine intake is detrimental to growth. It is recommended that adolescent children consume no more than 100mg (mg) of caffeine a day.

Reason 1: caffeine may affect bone development

Bone cells can be roughly divided into two types, one is "osteoblasts" (Osteoblast,OB), which are responsible for producing new bones, and the other is "osteoclasts" (Osteoclast,OC), which break down bone and release calcium into the bloodstream for use by body cells. When "osteoblasts" are more active than "osteoclasts", the body will continue to produce healthy and strong bones; on the contrary, bone will slowly lose. Studies have confirmed that caffeine can stimulate the activity of "osteoclasts" and promote the release of bone calcium into the blood, so teenagers drinking coffee will affect bone development.

Reason 2: caffeine is not good for children's cardiovascular development.

Caffeine has the effect of activating the sympathetic nerve, resulting in a short-term increase in hypertension, which has a negative effect on teenagers during their growth. The study found that teenagers who are used to drinking caffeinated drinks such as pick-me-up drinks and coffee generally have higher blood pressure than other teenagers who have no drinking habits, and have a significantly higher risk of developing high blood pressure in the future.

So, what is the daily limit of caffeine intake for minors?

According to the guidelines of the British Food Standards Agency (The UK Food Standards Agency) and Mayo Clinic, the daily intake of children and young people should be limited to less than 100mg (mg), that is, about one small cup of coffee; pregnant women should not exceed 200mg (mg), that is, about two small cups of coffee; and adults, 400mg (mg), that is, about four small cups of coffee or two refreshing drinks.

The Ministry of Health of New Zealand further recommends that children under the age of 12 avoid drinking pick-me-up drinks as far as possible to avoid a sudden rise in caffeine levels in the blood that may cause harm to children.

Source:The UK Food Standards Agency,Mayo Clinic,New Zealand Herald,BBC

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