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- Author, Writing
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A growing number of adolescents around the world are using caffeine bags to obtain an energy rush, and some experts fear that the trend will continue to spread.
These little sachets or “pouches”, similar to tea bags, are placed between the lip and gum and provide a rapid dose of caffeine, directly to the bloodstream.
Some influencers on social networks are promoting these products, recommending them to those who go to the gym to improve their performance or students who want to be alert to exams.
Tiktok Shop sells many brands and flavors that can attract young people, says Dr. Rob Van Dam, from George Washington University, USA.
But he adds that, as a single bag it contains as much caffeine as two normal coffee cups, it can be easy to drink too much and suffer unwanted side effects.
In several countries there is already a growing concern about the use of nicotine sachets – also known as SNUS – among young people.
In addition, caffeine sachets are discrete: it is possible that someone has one in their mouths, which makes it easier to hide them from parents and teachers.
Some product fans presume on the Internet of the “high” that produces to use two envelopes at the same time to obtain an extra discharge of caffeine.
As Michelle Roberts, BBC health editor explains, as caffeine is rapidly absorbed, the effects can start minutes after ingestion and last several hours. And the levels can get out of control.
Dr. Van Dam told the BBC: “Young people can have less tolerance to caffeine and there is the possibility of ending in the emergency room if they consume too much.”
Why do we consume caffeine and what happens if we do it in excess?
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Caffeine is a stimulant that can make you feel more alert and with less dream thanks to its effect on the brain and nervous system.
Lewis James, from the Faculty of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences of the University of Laughborough, England, states that there is a solid evidence that caffeine can help you feel easier to exercise.
It has become one of the supplements most used by athletes.
When exercising, your body produces a chemical called adenosine that makes you feel tired. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the nerves, so your brain perceives less pain and fatigue.
But it also acts on other parts of the body, including the cardiovascular system, which can be risky.
High levels can cause tachycardia, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. Although it is rare, deaths have been documented due to excess caffeine.
Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and may feel nausea, anxiety and irritability, in addition to headaches even with low doses.
In general, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day seem to be safe for most healthy adults; This is equivalent to about four cups of instant coffee.
Tea contains a little less, so five cups a day are usually an adequate amount.
Pregnant women are recommended to reduce daily intake by half, to 200 mg or less.
Children and adolescents are also more susceptible to risks and the possibility of overdose.
Therefore, energy drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine, for example, are already bound by the legislation of the European Union to carry labels that indicate: “High content in caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women or in breastfeeding period.”
Be careful with other drinks or foods containing caffeine
Dr. Van Dam states that it is easy to exceed safe limits because caffeine is found in many drinks and some foods, so it is important to control the amount consumed.
“While it is more difficult to suffer an overdose at coffee, with caffeine bags it is easier, especially if young people also consume energy drinks.”
The expert states that some products, when analyzing them in the laboratory, contain more caffeine than the label indicates.
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- Café: A cup contains between 100 and 140 mg of caffeine, but the amount can vary considerably.
- Has: A cup contains about 75 mg.
- Energy Drinks: They usually contain 80 mg in a 250 ml can.
- Refrescos: They usually contain about 40 mg per can.
- Chocolate: A 50 g bar of black chocolate contains about 25 mg of caffeine and a 50 g bar of milk with milk about 10 mg.
Dentists claim that prolonged use of caffeine sachets can irritate the gums, similar to nicotine sachets.
Some experts fear that caffeine bags can be a gateway to their consumption.
Bini Suresh, head of dietary at the Cleveland Clinic in London and spokesman for the British Dietary Association (BDA), states that the use of bags may seem “a fashion” or harmless, but there is a real risk to normalize the consumption of stimulants in adolescents and young adults, which could generate dependency patterns.
“While caffeine can provide a temporary stimulus, it can interrupt sleep and aggravate fatigue over time, especially in children and adolescents, which are more sensitive to their effects,” the expert told the BBC.
If young people are going to consume caffeine, both the BDA and the National Health Service of the United Kingdom recommend caution.
The European Food Security Authority suggests 3 mg/kg body weight as the upper limit for children and adolescents, which means that a 30 kg child should not consume more than 90 mg per day.
Instead of resorting to caffeine, Sureesh indicates that it is much better to focus on eating several times a day, staying hydrated and ingesting nutrient -rich foods that allow stable energy levels throughout the day.
A healthy diet with enough iron, proteins and slow -release carbohydrates should be enough, he says.
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