Can children drink tea? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this!

When adults drink tea together, children will come over and compete for a taste. "Drinking tea for health" is a consensus of many adults. They may think it is harmless and give some to children, and even do not restrict it. In addition to pure tea, there are actually various milk teas and tea drinks in life that contain tea.

So can children drink tea? Will it affect their health? Let's talk about [Children's Tea Instructions]

1. Why should we pay attention to children drinking tea?

1) The physiological effects of caffeine

Caffeine is the main active substance in tea, which has the functions of stimulating the central nervous system and diuresis, but the "clearance rate" of caffeine in children may be similar to that of adults. Short-term excessive intake can lead to sleep interruption, anxiety, and increased heart rate.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 12 years old should avoid consuming any caffeine products, because there is no safety threshold that has been proven to be absolutely harmless to children.

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2) Tannic acid and mineral absorption

Tannins (tannic acid) and oxalic acid in tea will combine with minerals such as calcium and iron to form complexes that are difficult to absorb. Long-term and large-scale intake may affect children's bone and blood health.

In summary, drinking tea for children under 12 may affect physical development and cause some physical discomfort.

2. Can you drink it? Age is the key

Let me first talk about the conclusion: Avoid drinking tea (including other caffeinated drinks) under 12 years old, drink light tea in moderation between 12-18 years old, and cultivate tea drinking habits normally for those over 18 years old according to physical conditions and personal preferences.

Children under 12 years old, especially those under 6 years old, have incomplete development of their body functions and are much more sensitive to caffeine than adults. A cup of strong tea may cause accelerated heartbeat, difficulty falling asleep, and even affect emotional stability.

Children aged 12-18 years old have enhanced metabolic capacity. If they really want to drink tea, they can drink light tea in moderation (concentration is about 1/3 of adult tea), such as a 150ml cup of light green tea (1-2 grams of tea).

3. Hidden benefits of drinking tea: prevent tooth decay and supplement nutrition

If you look at drinking tea scientifically, if you reach the age mentioned above, drinking a small amount of tea can also benefit your body like adults.

1) Natural anti-caries guard

Tea polyphenols and fluoride can inhibit oral bacteria. Rinsing your mouth with tea after a meal can reduce the incidence of tooth decay by 60%. Especially for children who love sweets, using green tea instead of carbonated drinks can both relieve greasiness and protect teeth.

2) Vitamin "invisible supplement pack"

Tea is rich in vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, zinc and other trace elements. For example, a cup of green tea provides vitamin C equivalent to 1/4 of an apple, which is a good nutritional supplement for picky children.

3) Cultivate concentration

The tea-making and tea-serving rituals in the tea ceremony can help children learn quietness and etiquette. A Japanese study found that children who participated in tea art activities had an average 20% increase in concentration.

4. Drinking tea can also become parent-child education

Whether children drink tea should not be a "choose one or the other" problem for parents, but a "parenting knowledge" that needs to vary from person to person and from time to time.

For children aged 0-12, boiled water, milk and light fruit juice are the main choices, and caffeinated tea should be avoided completely, so that they can grow up healthily without worries. For adolescents over 12 years old, low-caffeine or decaffeinated tea, as well as mild herbal tea, can be tried in moderation, under the premise of controlling caffeine intake (no more than 100 mg per day). Regardless of the age group, parents are advised to pay attention to the brewing method, drinking time and individual reactions of children, and make flexible adjustments according to the advice of professionals.

Only the "progressive tea drinking strategy" based on scientific research and actual observation can not only protect children's health, but also subtly cultivate their interest in tea culture, so that "drinking tea" can truly become a safe and quality family habit.