Soft Drinks in Schools

Do your children attend one of the many schools in North America that have entered into deals with major soft drink companies? If so, their health and education may be suffering. We're all aware that caffeinated drinks affect our daily rhythms. Many adults regularly use tea and coffee to perk them up for early morning meetings, but we rarely consider whether our children are getting the same daily high. Many do, according to a study by University of Ohio researchers Dr. Charles Pollack and his colleagues. They studied nearly 200 students aged 14 to 16 years and found the students had an average daily caffeine intake of about 63 mg. This amount is almost equivalent to one-half of a cup of coffee. If you think this isn't enough to matter, think again. This amount of caffeine can cause disrupted sleep patterns and tiredness during the day. The results of this study provide more reasons to ban the sale of soft drinks and junk food in elementary and high schools, no matter what the financial payoff.

Source: BBC news