Doctor Zach Turner warns that a popular drink can be as harmful to a child’s body and brain as cigarettes and alcohol.
Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week Dr Zach Turner talks about banning energy drinks for under 18s.
QUESTION: Hi Dr. Zach, my 17-year-old son is an avid energy drinker—he averages at least two a day, and sometimes he’ll even have one at dinner! We’ve had countless debates about how bad they are for you, but he always calls me a hypocrite for drinking coffee. I don’t believe that coffee and energy drinks are the same at all, do you agree? Do you believe that energy drinks can be harmful to the developing body of teenagers? Should there be any at all? Ruth 55 Victoria
ANSWER: Hi Ruth, In the UK the Food for Children Campaign (FCC) is campaigning to ban the sale of energy drinks to under 18s. I believe a similar ban should be introduced in Australia. We tell our children not to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol because of its effects on developing bodies and brains – energy drinks are the same way.
Before we get into the damaging effects of energy drinks on young people and why they are driving our youth into a frenzied sugar addiction, let’s answer your first question.
A cup of coffee is not the same as an energy drink at all. Energy drinks and coffee share the same stimulant, caffeine, which provides the energy boost we all love and crave. However, the difference is in the sugar levels.
The amount of caffeine in a can or bottle of energy drink can range from 80 mg to over 500 mg. In comparison, the average cup of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine. The devil in this detail is the sugar levels between these two. A can of energy drink can contain up to 27.5 grams of sugar – that’s two heaping tablespoons.
To put your son’s drinking habits into perspective, if he drinks three energy drinks, he’s drinking six tablespoons of sugar. For reference, the recommended daily amount of added sugar for men is 36 grams, or nine teaspoons.
I’m going to make the assumption that you drink milk with your coffee – which means you have no added sugar at all. Your coffee isn’t the same as his energy drink—so don’t let this little know-it-all try to sway your judgment.
Harmful effects on health
There is no safe limit of energy drinks for teenagers. Your son most likely feels energized after drinking one as a result of the sugar and caffeine. The effects of caffeine usually wear off after about an hour and then the sugar loses its effect.
Your son will go into an extreme sugar crash, causing him to drink another energy drink later in the day.
Along with these energy-boosting effects, energy drinks have been found to increase the risk of irregular heart rhythms, disrupt sleep, cause weight gain, cause tooth decay, contribute to mental health problems, and increase the risk of diabetes—just to name a few.
Regarding studies that focused on young people who consumed energy drinks, they found an increased risk of sleep problems, poor learning and poor performance. In some cases, they have been a factor increasing the risk of drug and alcohol use.
Your son will struggle to concentrate in class and will not perform at his best. He will also struggle to get a full night’s sleep, which will increase his stress and irritability levels.
I can safely assume that high sugar intake is quite addictive and like any other addictive substance, there are consequences. Addiction to sugar can lead to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other related health problems.
Ruth, sometimes we can’t wait for our politicians to take action, so I encourage you to do so and ban energy drinks in your household. Teach your son why they are bad for him and introduce him to cups of coffee when he turns eighteen.
I have a question: askdrzac@conciergedoctors.com.au
Dr Zach Turner holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and co-owner of a telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a Registered Nurse and is also a qualified and experienced Biomedical Scientist along with being a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering
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