Spend an afternoon hanging out in a Starbucks or Dunkin, and you’ll probably see a handful of teens—and maybe even some younger kids—stopping in for a cup of coffee. A 2017 industry report from the National Coffee Association found that the percentage of Americans aged 13 to 18 who drink coffee every day had risen to 37%, marking a 14-percentage-point increase since 2014.
The image of a 13-year-old drinking coffee seems somehow wrong—a child enjoying an adult’s habit. But there’s actually a lot of good in it. Recent studies have found that coffee consumption may lower a person’s risk for heart disease and early death. While coffee was once vilified, the prevailing wisdom these days is that if it isn’t messing with your sleep, it’s pretty much all upside. Research has also found that coffee contains several antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols, that seem to have healthy anti-inflammatory effects.
I – Word Understanding
Vilified – described as bad (for health)
Upside – favorable
II – Have Your Say
1. Some of today’s most-popular coffee drinks contain a lot more than just coffee. Sugar is a featured ingredient in many of the proprietary latte and cappuccino offerings at popular coffee chains. What would you recommend instead, for young people to drink?
2. Some recent reports have found that adolescents today are sleeping less than they used to. Is coffee the only culprit? Energy drinks contain caffeine, and social media & screen time are also seen as factors.
3. Let’s walk down memory lane: how was your teenage lifestyle as compared to now?
687 Should Parents Worry About Kids Drinking Coffee?
