Caffeine is all the rage these days. From our deliciously sweet coffee at our local coffee joint, our energy drinks before the gym or even a shot of caffeine that can last up to 5 hours! Caffeine is the latest trend and youth are becoming addicted. We all remember our parents telling us “you cant drink my coffee, it’ll stunt your growth!” But now the question is.. does it really stunt your growth?
Thankfully, scientists have busted this myth time and time again! Researchers at Harvard Medical discuss that in previous research, it was thought that caffeine may play a role in osteoporosis (decreased bone mass), causing decreased height, however, that information was “debunked” with further research. The video below discusses how the myth began in the first place.
Caffeine: The Pro’s and Con’s and What You Should Know
Caffeine is considered a stimulant which speeds up messages from your brain to your body. This can cause your body to feel more awake, alert and energized. Caffeine can be found in a variety of foods such as coffee beans, chocolate, soft drinks, tea and more. Caffeine is known to have both positive and negative effects on your body, but it is up to you decide which outweighs the other.
By: Sarah.249
The Positive Effects of Caffeine
Decreased risk of:
– Stroke
– Heart Disease
– Alzheimer’s Disease
– Kidney Disease
Caffeine may also:
– Improve mood
– Promote weight loss
– Enhanced physical performance
The Negative Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine also has a negative impact on the body, including:
– Heartburn
– Decreased appetite
– Increased anxiety
– Increased heart rate
– Sleeplessness
– Dehydration
– Moodiness and agitation
– Stomach issues
The Bottom Line:
Whether you decide caffeine is worth the risks or worth the benefits, the important fact to remember is that “Caffeine can stunt your growth” has determined to be an “old wives tale”. Should you have further questions or concerns, its always important to remember to talk to your doctor first before making any decisions involving your health.
References
Department of Health & Human Services. (2000, June 14). Caffeine. Better Health Channel. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/caffeine
Harvard Health Publishers. (2020, January 7). Can coffee really stunt your growth? HarvardHealth. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-really-stunt-your-growth
Kaputk. (2022, May 9). Does coffee stunt your growth? Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-coffee-stunt-growth/Does coffee really stunt your growth? We found out. www.youtube.com. Accessed February 22, 2023.
YouTube. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEbiY90l38I.
I found this post to be really interesting! I remember asking my mom to try her coffee when I was a kid and her telling me that it would stunt my growth, and I always wondered if that claim had any credibility or if it was just something parents said to get kids off their backs. It’s interesting that this myth persists, when there are plenty of reasons kids shouldn’t have caffeine that are supported by actual research. I thought the video included here was engaging and informative. I especially liked the part where they dove into possible origins of this myth, pointing to a coffee alternative ad as one of the possibilities – it makes sense that a coffee alternative company would want to perpetuate negative myths about coffee/caffeine. I think it’s great that you included the pros and cons section so that readers of your blog can make their own decision about if caffeine is the right choice for them based on actual facts, not old wives’ tales. I didn’t know about caffeine decreasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and kidney disease! Personally I just drink it because I need the energy, but it was interesting for me to learn about these additional perks! Of course, the cons section was a good reminder that while caffeine also has its pitfalls, so it’s best not to become too reliant on it. Great job!
I am a coffee drinker, therefore, this blog post caught my eye. I remember as a child my mom and dad always telling me that drinking coffee will “stunt my growth”. I always played sports so hearing this always made me nervous to drink coffee. As a mom of 2, I tell my children the same thing when they ask to take a sip of my coffee. I have never looked into this myth! After reading your blog and watching the video provided I now know that drinking coffee does NOT stunt your growth and that it is just a myth. Also, I learned that caffeine decreases the risks of Alzheimer’s and Kidney disease.
I am drinking Coffee right now as I read your blog. From a humble bean in the middle east or Ethiopia (both lay claim to being the 1st coffee drinkers). Coffee has become a global drink. I read an article the other day about how people in Finland are the largest consumers of java on earth. That’s pretty amazing, considering it doesn’t grow that far north. Coffee, like chocolate, is a unifying product that helps us create a global culture
This was an interesting post to read as I am currently trying to quit drinking coffee! I don’t think I ever actually heard the myth that coffee would stunt my growth, however, I am aware of some of the risks of drinking excessive amounts of caffeine. I am happy to know that coffee stunting your growth is just a myth! Overall, great job on your blog! It was fun to read and easy to follow!
Great blog! I was also under the impression that consuming coffee as a child could negatively impact your growth, and this belief was due to warnings from my parents.
Reading the blog post was a real eye-opener for me as well, and I appreciate how it debunked the myth with scientific evidence. It’s interesting to see how this myth originated from a misinterpretation of early research and how it has persisted over time.
But what I found most valuable about the post was learning about the health benefits associated with caffeine consumption. The fact that it can lower the risk of stroke, for example, is certainly not something I was aware of before. It’s reassuring to know that, in moderation, caffeine can actually be good for you.
Overall, I think it’s important for us to be open to new information and to question the assumptions we might have about the things we consume. It’s easy to take something like caffeine for granted and assume we know all there is to know about it, but there is always more to learn. So, I’m grateful for posts like these that challenge our assumptions and help us make more informed choices about our health!