It’s the trendy drink of the fall, but could a Pumpkin Spiced Latte increase the risk of depression in teens?
Yes, according to a doctor who warned about the surprisingly high levels of caffeine in the drink.
Large versions of the famous TikTok drink, sold in coffee shops like Starbucks, can contain almost 135 mg of caffeine.
This far exceeds the 100 mg per day that is recommended for 12- to 18-year-olds.
According to GP Dr Masarat Jilani, too much of the stimulant could not only increase the risk of heart problems, but could also make a teenager more likely to develop mental health problems such as depression.
Large Pumpkin Spice Lattes, sold at coffee shops like Starbucks, can contain almost 135 mg of caffeine.
Doctors have warned parents to talk to teens about the risks of too much caffeine as the social media must-have drinks return to shelves. stock image
“Excessive caffeine intake in teens can cause an increased heart rate, known as tachycardia, which can be dangerous, especially for teens with underlying heart conditions,” said Dr. Masarat Jilani, a health care company physician. from Jude’s bladder.
“Physical harm aside, too much caffeine in teenagers can cause mood swings and restlessness, as well as exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, which are already common during adolescence.”
As such, he recommended parents talk to their teens about the risks and how they could mitigate them.
“The fact that a large Pumpkin Spiced Latte contains more than a teen’s recommended dose of caffeine means it’s worth talking to them about their after-school caffeine intake this fall,” she said.
‘Remind them that there is always the option to order decaf when ordering this season’s trendy drink. “It won’t change the look of the drink, and your friends or Instagram won’t even need to know.”
Caffeine isn’t the only potential health hazard posed by Pumpkin Spiced Lattes.
According to information on Starbucks’ website, its ‘venti’ (large) Pumpkin Spiced Latte contains more than 42 grams of sugar, or 10 teaspoons.
This far exceeds NHS recommendations, which say adults should consume no more than 30g of sweets a day, with under-18s urged to consume even less.
Excessive sugar consumption has been linked to problems such as obesity and cavities.
Caffeine consumption among young people has become an increasing target of calls for regulation, particularly with regard to energy drinks.
Energy drinks contain between 80 mg and 300 mg of caffeine per serving. This compares to 100 mg in a cup of coffee.
A 500ml can of Monster Energy, for example, contains up to 160mg of caffeine.
Caffeine is a stimulant that causes an increase in blood pressure when consumed.
It causes the blood vessels to constrict, which consequently increases the heart rate.
While this increase in blood pressure is temporary, the NHS warns that drinking more than four cups of coffee a day, approximately 400mg of caffeine, can increase blood pressure in the long term.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a known risk factor for multiple serious cardiovascular emergencies, including heart attacks and strokes.
In the UK, regulations already state that any energy drink with more than 150mg of caffeine per liter must be labeled as high caffeine.
Governments previously outlined plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to under-16s in 2019, but the policy was never carried out during the Covid pandemic.
But under a new Labor plan, energy drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine will be banned from sale to children, with rules imposed by trading standards.
Businesses will have to check the identification of people if they believe they could be minors, in the same way they currently do with the sale of alcohol and tobacco.
Retailers would also face fines of up to £2,500 if they breached the ban.
Starbucks was contacted for comment.