Here's for the Caffeine Drinkers in Education

Caffeine, Cafatine, Cafergot, cup of joe, java . . . what would a morning in the Great Northwest be without that black cup of java . . . Or, in my case, those 20 ounce triples that are created individually as I anxiously wait. (Supersize it please!). No more let it sit in a pot and get stale, it has to be fresh and of course nobody can drink just one . . . at least I can't.

Well, I obviously enjoy a good dark brew and have often wondered what potential problems I may be on a direct collision course with as a consequence. Should I be concerned with my desire to only drink the 'good stuff', in large quantities black of course? What about the current trend of children consuming extra enhanced and super charged caffeinated liquids? Should we be concerned with this trend among are youth?

Since so many of us and many of our students are partaking in this attractive vice, I decided to devote this issue to the "coffee drinkers in education."

Specifically in this issue I try to answer the following questions. What affect is this having on us? Are there any long term challenges we may encounter as a result of this caffeine habit? Additionally, has anyone provided recommendations for caffeine intake as a result of medical research? This page will begin the discussion which will be revisited in the future.

PELINKS4U Staff
Guest Health and Fitness Section Editor

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	Caffeine causes vasoconstriction or narrowing of arteries and veins that supply blood to the head.
	Too much caffeine can actually cause a reduced blood flow to a fetus.
	Caffeine can travel through breast milk potentially causing harm to a newborn.
	Drinking up to three cups (8 oz) of coffee a day appears to pose no risk to most individuals.  (300 milligrams of caffeine)
	Habitual coffee drinkers quickly develop a tolerance to the caffeine and don't exhibit the increased heart rate and blood pressure that non coffee drinkers exhibit.
	Coffee does not appear to increase the risk of heart disease in women who drank as much as 6 cups/day.
	Caffeine may actually improve attention, psychomotor skills, and long-term memory during the few hours immediately following caffeinated drinks.
	Caffeine aggravates sleeping problems like insomnia.
	Increased levels of anxiety or depression can be exacerbated by caffeine.
	Coffee is almost calorie free but many of the common coffee drinks may actually include more calories than a typical desert.
For more on caffeine visit Web MD

The Truth About Caffeine, Sugar, and Fat

Sometimes it's difficult to determine the truth about food. TV and magazines tantalize consumers with images of tasty, sugary foods. Your child's doctor may tell you that your child's diet is too high in fat. But what's the truth?

Caffeine, totally lacking in nutritional value, does not add taste, texture, or color to a soft drink. Caffeine affects children and adults similarly. A stimulant, caffeine can interfere with sleep and may affect children who are sensitive to it. In addition, because caffeine is a diuretic that causes the body to eliminate water, it can contribute to dehydration. Caffeine is an especially poor choice in hot weather, when children need to replace water lost through perspiration. In addition, children who drink lots of caffeinated beverages may miss getting the calcium they need from milk to build strong bones and teeth.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests a maximum of 6 tablespoons of sugar per day for someone consuming 1,600 calories (an amount typical for children 5 years). One 12-ounce soft drink contains about 3 tablespoons of sugar, so in one drink, your child is getting almost half the day's recommended amount of sugar.

Sugar's effects are sometimes misperceived. Sugar does promote tooth decay, but studies show no link between hyperactivity and sugar. When 5-year-olds are running around at a birthday party after eating cake and ice cream, parents joke that they're "high" from the sugar. The reality is they're just being 5-year-olds, explains pediatrician Keith Ayoob, MD.

Sugar does not cause hyperactivity, but it can contribute to excess weight gain. Foods that are high in sugar also tend to be high in calories and fat and low in other valuable nutrients. As a result, a high-sugar diet is often linked with obesity.

There's an important link between calories, sugar, and fat. A calorie is a unit that measures heat, or energy. So calories describe the amount of energy that different foods supply to people. The amount of heat, measured in calories, is that particular food's caloric content. Before you eat, the energy contained in the food is trapped in the food. The energy is released when your digestive system breaks down the food. Because sugary and fatty foods often are high in calories, it takes the body longer to use up those calories. As a result, excess calories from food equal excess pounds on a person's body.

On the fat front, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends that after age 2, children should consume no more than 30% of daily calories from fat. Infants and toddlers need more fat as they're developing. Excess fat in a child's diet may lead to weight gain. Obese children have a higher incidence of depression and orthopedic problems, reports Jordan Metzl, MD, a pediatrician. Kids who carry excess weight into adulthood have greater risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and early death.

Kids who fill up on sugar, fat, and caffeine don't get the nutrients they need from healthy sources, putting them at risk for malnutrition. The average teen consumes about twice as much sugar as the USDA recommends and doesn't get the recommended amounts of fruit and low-fat milk.

source: KidsHealth for parents

Caffeine: An Unhealthy Choice for Kids

Whether it is an adorable little girl belting out a catchy pop tune or hip teens doing hip things, children see countless images every day encouraging them to consume caffeinated drinks. Unfortunately, children are responding to the messages by drinking more caffeine at an earlier age than ever before, much to the concern of parents and child health experts.

St. Louis Children's Hospital registered dietitian Marilyn Tanner worries about caffeinated beverages taking the place of milk, juice, water and other more healthy drinks. In fact, when soda replaces milk at mealtime, not only do children miss out on that serving of calcium, but the phosphoric acid and sugar in soda trigger additional loss of this bone-nourishing mineral. "Children who drink soda should definitely drink extra milk or have other dairy products," Tanner says. "There is nothing nutritious to a growing child in the sugar, water and caffeine combination of soda." Tanner recommends that caffeinated sodas be a rare treat for preschoolers and elementary-age children.

She also worries that the documented diuretic effects of caffeine can cause children to become dehydrated. "Caffeinated soda actually makes you more thirsty," she says. "It can be very dehydrating and should never be thought of as a replacement for water."

Caffeine in any of its forms – soda, coffee, tea or chocolate – is a mildly addictive stimulant. In both adults and children, low doses will increase arousal and focus, while high doses can lead to jittery, restless behavior, a loss of efficiency and an upset stomach. But what is considered a moderate amount of caffeine for an adult body can be a super-sized amount for a child. "Parents need to be aware of the ever-increasing portion sizes available," Tanner says. "A small soda isn't so small any more."

Lynn Blackburn, Ph.D., St. Louis Children's Hospital pediatric neuropsychologist, is familiar with the vicious cycle of sleep problems and morning fatigue resulting from too much caffeine. "Depending on how much caffeine is being consumed, it can factor in to a child's ability to get a good night's sleep and focus the next day." A jolt from a couple of late-morning Mountain Dews and a chocolate donut brings on the jitters. After school, a long nap followed by more caffeine sets up another sleepless night. In the morning, they again deal with fatigue.

The good news, says Dr. Blackburn, is that while caffeine is addictive, its withdrawal symptoms, such as headache, irritability and fatigue, only last a day or two. "It is also important to address the lifestyle issues that led to the caffeine use," Dr. Blackburn says. "Hectic schedules and easy access to soda, coffee and chocolate contribute to its overuse and dependence."

Fortunately, all it takes is commitment and a little creativity to keep kids from developing a caffeine dependence. By feeding children only nutritious foods during their preschool years, when you have the most control over what they eat, experts agree that parents can help children develop a connection between what they eat and how they feel. At home, reinforce the fact that by avoiding addictive substances, like caffeinated drinks, they won't need to be bothered by the headaches and irritability that comes with their withdrawal. Then, present them with an enticing smoothie made with orange juice and fresh fruit or a refreshing carbonated water and fruit juice combination. For older kids, turn them on to relaxing herb tea or milk mixed with strawberry syrup. Very soon, they will realize that "the real thing" is actually the healthy thing.

source: 1997-2002, St. Louis Children's Hospital

Why is "Generation Next" (as Pepsi puts it) downing caffeine at rates never seen before? One likely reason is that most parents are unaware of the health problems associated with caffeine. Solid scientific research has linked caffeine to anxiety, respiratory ailments, possible bone loss, and other health worries--although there has been slight coverage of this. For more on this article just click on the link!

Wired

Should we be concerned with these types of drinks?

Since we are discussing the effects of caffeine, I guess it is appropriate to include the marketing techniques/ploys of companies to provide "what you asked for". How about an extra jolt of caffeine in your cup?

What about sites that market with skateboards and kids that sell a variety of caffeinated drinks that are designed for those who experience exhaustion which is normal.

In Closing

I never dreamt when I began this page that there would be so much information provided by people who have or think they have all of the scoop on coffee. What I have provided is numerous sources, many of which, attempt to answer the questions I posed in the editorial. While I feel that many of these sites provide accurate information, there is so much on the web that is not accurate. Be careful with what you believe about caffeine, the most used pick-me-up drug.