Are you a coffee lover?
If you are, then that’s not really unique, since coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Millions of people would name coffee as their favorite drink and with good reason.
Now, if you are a parent, the question is when should you let your kids start drinking coffee. In the next few minutes, you will learn more on that topic.
The Benefits of Drinking Coffee
You have probably read or heard something about the worries that people have in connection to drinking coffee. Those worries are the reason why some people are hesitant to have kids drinking coffee.
But you should also be aware that coffee drinking can bring in some health benefits too. Here are a few of the benefits that one can get from drinking coffee:
- Coffee and Diabetes
There is evidence that coffee can help prevent Type 2 Diabetes. It has that effect because it is rich in antioxidants and in minerals. There are indications that this effect is not from the caffeine content of the coffee, which means that even decaffeinated coffee will have the same effect.
- Coffee and Heart Disease
There is also the possibility that coffee can lower the risk of developing several heart diseases and stroke. There are several reasons why it has that effect. First of all, we have discussed how it lowers the risk for developing diabetes. Did you know that diabetes increases the likelihood of developing heart disease.
Then, coffee has been linked with lowering the risk of developing heart rhythm disturbance which is connected with other heart problems.
- Coffee and Parkinson’s Disease
Drinking of coffee has been associated with lower risks of developing Parkinson’s disease. Why it has that effect is still not clear and would still have to be explored by further study, but the indications are pretty solid already.
- Coffee and Alzheimer’s Disease
Coffee has also been linked to lowering the risk of developing dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s Disease. A study that was conducted in Scandinavian countries have shown that people who consume around three to five cups of coffee on a daily basis are significantly less likely to develop dementia.
- Coffee and cancer
There are good indications that coffee can help in the prevention of certain types of cancer. The anti-cancer properties of coffee could stem from the vitamin B2 and a variety of phytochemicals which it contains.
- Coffee and Weight Loss
Because coffee is low on calories, it is a good beverage choice for those trying to lose weight. Just skip the creamer and the sugar if you want to keep your coffee low on calorie.
With all of these benefits, there are still some parents who are reluctant to have their kids drinking coffee. Their main objection to this beverage is that it can be very stimulating.
So, the question is when should you let your kids start drinking coffee?
You might have a moment in your life when you drank too much coffee. Some of the effects of drinking too much coffee include:
- Lack of sleep
- Headaches
- Inability to concentrate
- Increased heart rate
It would take less caffeine to have that effect on your kids. So, should you just not let your kids drink coffee or is there an amount that would be right for children? And at what age should kids start consuming coffee?
There are those who claim that coffee can interfere with a child’s ability to absorb calcium, which can interfere with proper growth. There is no serious evidence that would support this claim.
A good indication that coffee does not have any adverse effect on children is the fact that in several cultures, children drink coffee. In Scandinavian countries for example, children get to drink coffee at a young age. There seems to be no effect on growth and development there and the population there tend to grow very tall.
What you don’t want is for your kids to become jittery. Let’s be honest, if coffee can have that effect on adults, then it will surely affect kids in the same way.
Your kids don’t really need the stimulation which can be provided by coffee. Many adults drink coffee in order to stay awake and feel energized. Most kids have enough energy already, in fact some parents would say that they have too much energy already. Making them drink coffee is not going to help them therefore.
The Ideal Age
So, while there is no adverse health effects of drinking coffee, it’s probably a good idea to hold the coffee for your kids, until they reach 12 years old. Remember that your kids will still be consuming caffeine through other sources like soft drinks.
Once your kids reach adolescence, then it should be okay for them to drink coffee.
You might want to hold the coffee for as long as possible. But if you see your kids being lethargic in the morning, then serving their breakfast with coffee is going to be a good idea.
Again, try to hold back the coffee for as long as possible. When they reach adolescence, then there is nothing wrong with them drinking a cup everyday.
Just remember not to serve their cup with too much sugar or cream as that can become an unhealthy habit. The coffee by itself is very beneficial, as proven by the benefits we have enumerated. It is the add-ons that can cause serious health problems.
If you will be letting your kids drink coffee, then you have to make sure that you will be making the best drinks available to them. The best way to do that is to get the best beans and to have the best coffee making equipment. There are plenty of online stores such as qavashop.com where you can shop for the top coffee accessories.
The quality of your coffee drinks would depend on the beans and also on the accessories that you will be using in preparing the beverage. Hopefully, that should shed some light on whether you will be letting your kid drink coffee or not.
Amanda Bentley has 5 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry and currently works as a Content writer at Qavashop (www.qavashop.com). Qavashop.com is an online store for all the “coffee aficionados” located in the GCC. Apart from providing its customers with quality coffee machines and consumables, it also provides them with skilled, knowledgeable advice on how to make their own restaurant quality espresso at home.
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