At what age is it healthy for people to start drinking coffee?
Asked by
cockswain (
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December 15th, 2011
I’m curious, since my 13½ year old suddenly discovered she likes lattes. I was told things like “it stunts your growth”, or more generically, “it isn’t good for you”, but I’m wondering what the medical community thinks in modern times. So if you know anything current and factual, I’d love to know. If my daughter can have all the coffee she wants, fine. If there is reason for me to be concerned, I’ll limit her consumption.
Please don’t tell me anything unsubstantiated, like “my mother told me to wait until I was 16.”
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Generally, caffeine is well tolerated in usual dietary amounts, and there is evidence that individuals differ in their susceptibility to caffeine-related adverse effects, which in turn may influence their consumption. Overall, the effects of caffeine in children seem to be modest and typically innocuous. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691502000972
I started loving coffee at the age of 12. I drink about 6 cups a day.
I am 6 ft 5 in tall and hasn’t stopped me from growing.
Caffeine is caffeine, whether its in a Coke or in a cup of coffee.
No coffee after 6 pm or her sleep will be disturbed.
“Caffeine may have a negative effect on a child’s nutrition if caffeinated drinks replace healthy drinks, such as milk. A child who consumes caffeine may also eat less, because caffeine reduces the appetite. Carefully watch how much caffeine a child gets. Even though caffeine is safe in moderate amounts, it is a stimulant. A hyperactive child may need to avoid caffeine.”
National Institute of Health
Great answers guys, thanks. So as long as she doesn’t appear to have some obvious problem, and doesn’t drink it exclusively, it’s no worse than soda. I’d guess it’s probably better for you than soda anyways.
As long as it doesn’t affect her sleep or make her hyperactive. Kids drink more caffeine in soda drinks than they’d ever get from a cup of coffee.
@cockswain your soda comment reminded me of something I read a while ago with relation to soda and osteoporosis. Just as a heads up if you’re concerned about such things, she might want to go skim if she’s drinking one or two (or three or four… o.O) a day as a venti whole milk latte packs in 290 calories according to the starbucks nutrition site; does have 50% DV Calcium though.
Thanks for the info. Actually, we don’t really ever buy soda at our house since it pretty much sucks. Maybe she has some at school, but not a ton.
@cockswain As long as she does not get addicted, it should be fine.
Sure. True of anything really.
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