Energy Drink Youth Warnings
February 14, 2011
A new report from University of Miami experts warns that children under 18 should be very careful consuming energy drinks. Energy drinks are currently the fastest selling drink on the shelves ($9 billion/year), but reearchers recommend children under 18 consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily, adults 400 mg daily.
A can of coca-cola containts 33 mg/caffeine and a can of Mountain Dew 90 mg. A can of Red Bull would also be considered safe for children at 75 mg. A starbucks 8 oz coffee, however, has 180 mg, a can of Jolt 280 (or the equivalent of 8 cans of coca-cola) and a Monster energy drink 160 mg (or the equivalent of 4 cans of coca-cola). One energy drink, Rage, has 400 mg of caffeine.
Researchers warn that too much caffeine in youth under 18 may cause syumptoms such as dizziness, shakiness, and hyperactivity. They particularly warn against the very powerful energy drinks for those with diabetes, seizures, cardiac abnormalities or mood and behavior disorders as there have been cases of caffaine toxicity causing seizures, stroke and even sudden death.
While soft drinks are regulated, energy drinks are not as they are currently considered dietary supplements/
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New Report Warns of Energy Drink Health Risks for Children