Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
Researchers have found that an increasing number of non-alcoholic beverages contain caffeine, with more than half of them, especially colas, containing the stimulant.
Manufacturers add caffeine to get children hooked on these drinks. Researchers warn that children who develop a taste for such beverages may consume excessive sugar and become obese.
The London Times reported that researchers from Deakin University in Australia discovered that some drinks contain very high levels of caffeine. Children only need to drink 500 milliliters to ingest enough caffeine to potentially trigger addictive responses in both body and mind.
Beverage manufacturers claim that the addition of bitter-tasting caffeine is for flavoring, to prevent the drinks from being too sweet.
Deakin University researchers conducted over a thousand tests, offering a variety of commercially available non-alcoholic beverages and laboratory-prepared caffeine-free drinks to participants. They found no difference in taste or flavor between the two.
The related research was published in the latest issue of the medical journal "Appetite."
Dr. Keast, who led the study, pointed out that to prevent children or teenagers from developing obesity due to drinking these beverages, it is necessary to prohibit the addition of caffeine in drinks for public health reasons and to ban advertising targeted at children for such drinks.
For example, in the UK in 2003, local children consumed an average of 73 liters of carbonated drinks per person, making it necessary to prevent health issues arising from their consumption.
Caffeinated Drinks Addicting Children
Manufacturers add caffeine to get children hooked on these drinks. Researchers warn that children who develop a taste for such beverages may consume excessive sugar and become obese.
The London Times reported that researchers from Deakin University in Australia discovered that some drinks contain very high levels of caffeine. Children only need to drink 500 milliliters to ingest enough caffeine to potentially trigger addictive responses in both body and mind.
Beverage manufacturers claim that the addition of bitter-tasting caffeine is for flavoring, to prevent the drinks from being too sweet.
Deakin University researchers conducted over a thousand tests, offering a variety of commercially available non-alcoholic beverages and laboratory-prepared caffeine-free drinks to participants. They found no difference in taste or flavor between the two.
The related research was published in the latest issue of the medical journal "Appetite."
Dr. Keast, who led the study, pointed out that to prevent children or teenagers from developing obesity due to drinking these beverages, it is necessary to prohibit the addition of caffeine in drinks for public health reasons and to ban advertising targeted at children for such drinks.
For example, in the UK in 2003, local children consumed an average of 73 liters of carbonated drinks per person, making it necessary to prevent health issues arising from their consumption.