Teens Boost Caffeine Consumption: How Informed Are You?

Caffeine is such a staple in the North American teenage diet that it is hardly given much consideration by those who regularly consume it. Most people know that it is present in coffee, sodas, chocolates, energy drinks and even some teas, but how aware is the public of the health risks?

The National Coffee Association of the USA has documented that the percentage of teen and young adult consumers (aged 18 to 24) has nearly doubled since 2003 from 16 per cent to 31 per cent. So how is caffeine affecting you?

Caffeine comes in the most delectable packages, like smooth lattes, icy colas and moist chocolate cake. Unfortunately, these comforts come with a price: the consumption of an addictive substance, loaded with side effects.

Although the myth that caffeine can cause cancer is false, according to Kids-Health, it is known to damage the kidneys, risk the effects of osteoporosis and deprive bones of calcium. Similarly, the initial energy boost and stimulation that it can give may seem useful, but it can also be addictive, and since caffeine acts as a diuretic, meaning it increases the amount of water given off by the body, caffeinated drinks should never be a replacement for thirst.

Experts on the Health Canada website write that "it is difficult to link precise intake levels of caffeine to specific health effects because tolerance to caffeine differs widely from person to person," but that "the increasing presence of caffeine in our lives raises the question of how much is too much for the average consumer."

Adults are recommended to intake no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, while for teens, this number plummets to 85 milligrams. That's about two cans of cola, a coffee or one small Red Bull.

When asked about her love of coffee and caffeinated drinks, Calgary Notre Dame High School student Chelsea Madryga states, "I'm sleepy and have to drag myself to classes without caffeine- sort of dead to the world."

Hajar Al Khouzaii, from Central Memorial High School in Calgary, agrees with her. Hajar drinks coffee three to four times a week for the energy surge that it gives her: "I definitely do feel it when I haven't had any, I crash. The caffeine keeps my body feeling alert for so long that after it's gone, my energy is completely gone."

Charmaine Body, a local Calgary nurse, concurs with the addictive theories. She's known people who halt their caffeine intake to experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and dizziness. She suggests caffeine intake in "slow moderate amounts only."

Unfortunately, Health Canada does not require most product packaging to display the amount of included caffeine, so consumers don't actually realize how much caffeine they are ingesting. Even typical food products such as chocolate, ice cream and gum can be a mystery.

Hajar admits to knowing the ill effects caffeine can have on her body, but she was never aware of the amount found in her drinks. The average cup of drip coffee has about 110 to 150 milligrams of caffeine in it, and Jolt energy drinks have 160 milligrams! Even so-called "caffeinated" beverages still have an average of three per cent caffeine in them.

Another problem is the use of marketing and advertising by a variety of companies to specifically target teens and young adults. The energy drink industry in particular campaigns with the intent to draw in a younger audience. According to a research article published in the Nutrition Journal, in 2006, more than 500 new energy drinks were introduced worldwide - most of the stimulus was from the impressive jump in teenage consumption sales.

Meanwhile, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, energy drinks in North America have grown in the last five years from a US$500 million business to a US$1 billion powerhouse, becoming the fastest growing section of North America's beverage industry.

Caffeine can be an enjoyable part of a drink or snack, but one must be sure to understand the associated risks that come with excess indulgence. The best way to thwart caffeinated health risks is to be informed, consume in moderation and to investigate the amount found in products. It is your body after all, and you can only live once, so why not live well?