Children under 12 years of age must not be given coffee, advise experts. Coffee is a stimulant that can make one develop cravings and dependence.
A regular cup holding about 240 ml of coffee contains roughly 100 mg of caffeine. This is a mega-dose for a child.
Children must never have coffee first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, as it can cause acidity.
Hyperactivity, disturbed sleep, and aggressiveness are some of the warning signs of excessive caffeine intake that parents must watch out for.
Excess coffee may cause high stress levels, mood swings, irritability, lack of concentration, sleep, and anxiety issues in children, which can also impact academic performance
Coffee activates the fight-or-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system and increases heart palpitations.
Those who stop drinking coffee after regular use, can have withdrawal symptoms including fatigue, inability to focus and headaches.