Is coffee really that bad for young kids?!


Question: Is coffee really that bad for young kids?
I drink maybe half a cup of coffee a day with cream (no sugar). I started drinking it when school first started and I had trouble getting up, but now I just drink it because, heck, why not? But my science teacher says it's really bad for kids my age to drink it. I'm in early 12's, a couple months past my birthday. Is it really so bad for me to drink half a cup of coffee a day? I know it doesn't stunt your growth so don't even try to feed me that one. But come on, it's got like 50 milligrams of caffeine in it. Why is it so much worse than drinking green tea or something?

Answers:

I don't think that coffee, per se, is the problem that is dangerous for kids. Becoming addicted to the caffeine, and depending on it to keep you awake in class or get you going in the morning is the danger. It is not a good habit for adults to get into, either, but I think teens are especially vulnerable to the dangers of caffeine addiction. As a teen, your sleep cycles are not always in sync with the adults around you and your school schedule. It is easy to become dependent on caffeine to get you moving and keep you awake, when you may rather be sleeping in your bed! It becomes a crutch, and then an addiction. Too much caffeine can affect your heart, it can affect your skin, coffee stains your teeth, the cream has fat/calories that are empty (as does sugar, if you use it!). If you like the taste and that is your reason for drinking it, switch to decaf coffee.



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