There are many health benefits of coffee. With its easy accessibility, anyone can purchase the morning kick-starter even teens. Many teenagers around the country are adding it into their routines. However the danger lies in the amount of caffeine intake, a small difference from the regarded accepted dose could kill you as experts say.
As reported by WTHITV, there are already two teenagers who have died from overdose on powdered caffeine. Now the Food and Drug Administration is making all efforts to keep it out of hands of the young people.
It is reported that a few cups of caffeinated coffee or tea can bring no harm and can boost you as you start your day. However, the capacity of caffein's pure form is something that cannot be misjudged.
According to Dr. Jason Hack, Director of the Division of Emergency Medicine Toxicology at Rode Island Hospital said, "The issue is that people have the terrific ability to use too much of this, and they can get themselves into big problems."
Ironically, powdered caffeine as a supplement has been considered by the FDA despite the fact that just a spoonful can be deadly. Although it's not regulated entirely by the agency, the fact that small doses of the pure form can be harmful is something that FDA should look into again. Just 2.7 grams of pure powdered caffeine which is about a teaspoon is roughly the equivalent of 28 cups of coffee or 79 cans of soda. The maximum daily dose is 400 milligrams which a kitchen scale can measure for you.
"It's exquisitely small, and most people don't have the ability to regulate the caffeine to a dose that would be appropriate," added Dr. Hack.
It was further reported that the use of powdered caffeine has resulted in deaths of two otherwise healthy young men in Georgia and Ohio. Logan Stiner's death, 18 years of age, was diagnosed as "acute caffeine toxicity". The lad was overdosed on one teaspoon of powdered caffeine. This sadly happened just days before his high school graduation.
Although there have been no reports of overdose caffeine in Rhode Island, State Rep. David Bennet is set to reintroduce a bill that would prohibit the sale of powdered caffeine to anyone under 21.
Healthy adults are advised not to have more than four or five cups of coffee a day. However, this depends on how strong your coffee is and this is where the problem usually begins. Measuring a safe dose of powdered caffeine is not easy. The news site has provided a caffeine calculator to gauge the effects of caffeine to your system. Again, the accepted dose is just 400 milligrams of pure powdered caffeine.
"It's exquisitely small, and most people don't have the ability to regulate the caffeine to a dose that would be appropriate," said Dr. Hack.
Do you agree that pure powdered caffeine should be regulated among teens? Share us your thoughts by leaving your comments below.
