Attention Hispanic moms: Put down that coffee!
More and more evidence suggests drinking coffee daily may be a good adult habit, but new research shows some parents–particularly Hispanic moms–are giving the caffeinated…
Children may drink coffee as a cultural norm, but experts agree it isn’t a healthy option. (Shutterstock)
More and more evidence suggests drinking coffee daily may be a good adult habit, but new research shows some parents–particularly Hispanic moms–are giving the caffeinated beverage to their toddlers.
Though coffee has been indicated in a number of studies to do everything from lower cancer risk to decrease the chance of heart disease, it is not an approved drink for developing children. In some cultures, however, children are often given coffee to drink with parents as a form of family quality time and cultural norm. Such is the case with many Hispanics; the National Coffee Association states Hispanics have the highest coffee consumption levels of any ethnicity in the United States.
SEE ALSO: Women who drink coffee can reduce cancer risk
Overall, experts found Hispanic moms were 15 times more likely compared to non-Hispanic white mothers to give their toddlers coffee.
It isn’t the coffee itself that has experts concerned. The reason parents should think again before offering a child coffee is because of the caffeine and the sugar content. Jessica Lieb, a registered dietician at the Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told Today Health some coffee drinks “blow soda out of the water” when it comes to amounts of added sugar.
As for caffeine, experts have long ago advised against its inclusion in a child’s diet–in any form. Caffeine can cause children to lose sleep; can increase anxiety; can lead to a decreased appetite and improper growth; and can cause children to become hyperactive. In children with undiagnosed heart conditions, too much caffeine can be fatal.
Coffee can interrupt a child’s sleep patterns, causing issues related to sleep deprivation. (Shutterstock)
“Caffeine affects the central nervous system as a stimulant,” Dr. Nicole Caldwell, assistant professor of pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, told Live Science. “The brains of a child tend to be a little bit more sensitive to caffeine’s effects than the brains of adults. Caffeine can cause them to be hyperactive, which is obvious. But it also can make them nervous, anxious, worsen stomach problems and create sleep problems. Also if they have an undiagnosed arrhythmia, an irregular or abnormal heartbeat, caffeine increases excitability within the heart, which can exacerbate the arrhythmia.”
Most experts agree that coffee should be included in the list of unhealthy childhood beverages along with soda and energy drinks.
SEE ALSO: New study indicates energy drinks impact heart function
Unfortunately, coffee is an old-world commodity and therefore has roots in many different cultures. The dangers of the beverage from children are often overlooked due to cultural beliefs and habits, and there is a pervading belief of “I drank coffee as a child and I turned out fine,” in many households. What’s more, some online child resources suggest giving coffee to toddlers as a way of “encouraging stimulation,” suggesting that it is an enjoyable experience for children to feel the awareness increase associated with caffeine and sugar.
Jennifer Temple, an associate professor at the University of Buffalo who headed up the most recent research, stated her data clearly showed the negative effects of caffeine in child participants, including an increase in blood pressure. As for the “awareness” fad on the Internet, Temple nailed it on the head, saying, “I know I dont need my kids to be any more awake or active than they already are.
