We've all heard at some point that drinking coffee can stunt your growth when you're young. But is this really true? - Pic by Hanny Naibaho/Unsplash
FOR many people, coffee is their go-to morning drink for that much-needed jolt of caffeine to start off their day.
In households with young children, the little ones will undoubtedly become curious about this bitter concoction that the adults seem to depend on, so at some point, they may even ask to try some.
But wait – is it all right to allow kids to have coffee? You may have heard tales of how it could stunt a child’s growth.
Is this true?
Verdict:
FALSE
There is no scientific evidence that supports this myth – in fact, one 1998 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, which tracked 81 women aged 12–18 for six years, it found no difference in bone health between those who had the highest daily caffeine intake compared to those with the lowest caffeine intake.
As paediatric endocrinologist Dr. Roy Kim tells Cleveland Clinic, "The answer to this one is simple: caffeine doesn’t impact growth."
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the consumer health information division of Harvard Medical School, this misconception may have come from the belief that coffee causes osteoporosis, a condition whereby the loss of bone density could lead to a loss in height.
But there is also no conclusive scientific evidence connecting the consumption of caffeine with reduced calcium absorption, which could lead to osteoporosis.
After studies that suggested a link between the two were analysed, it was found that those who drank a lot of coffee also tended to consume less calcium and vitamin D in their day-to-day diet, which is a likelier cause of decreased bone density.
Experts do caution against letting children younger than 12-years-old take caffeine regularly, but it’s due to the fact that they are more sensitive to caffeine and more likely to suffer its negative effects, such as anxiety, insomnia and an upset stomach.
But when it comes to teens, black coffee with little to no added sugar is a far better option than soda or energy drinks – it may actually even help them be more alert and focused. As always, everything in moderation!
References:
1. Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.
2. Cleveland Clinic: https://health.
3. Dietary Caffeine Intake Is Not Correlated with Adolescent Bone Gain: https://www.tandfonline.com/
