Giving coffee to kids is a cultural thing and is viewed as normal in many countries including Europe, Brazil and many South American countries.
Before I tell you about my household and how I use it, I want to share with you some background of how I view coffee (and why I view it like any other herb, natural remedy or medicine).
While I was studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor, 'coffea arabica' was just another botanical we studied in our Botanical Medicine course (and learned about its use as a medicine - stimulant, laxative, brain booster, MAOI inhibitor, circulation stimulator, fat burner and antioxidant etc - it's a LONG list).
[As a side note, I once saw a Chinese medical doctor who determined that my constitution was too 'cold' and asked me to include coffee and wine in my diet (to help move my blood and sluggish circulation)...he was SO right - it's something that I include daily and feel MUCH better from it (COFFEE silly, not wine...I generally save the wine for weekends:)]
So YES coffee is a MEDICINE! Here's some neat facts:
In a 2005 study by Florian Koppelstätter (Medical University at Innsbruck, Austria) MRI scans determined that caffeine increased activity of the anterior cingulate in the prefrontal lobe of the brain. Why might you care? These areas are involved in planning, attention, monitoring and concentration...hey wait a minute, aren't these really important for school??
Another cool fact, caffeine has been studied as playing a role in calming children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD (where inattention and impulsivity often hinder their ability to concentrate). Although caffeine is a stimulant, some individuals are using it to medicate ADHD in their children or themselves. In these individuals caffeine has the opposite effect it has on others - instead of being stimulating, caffeine appears to have a calming effect. Love it.
BUT WAIT...it's important to note that large amounts of caffeine can have negative consequences such as headaches, digestive disturbances and addiction SO please know how much caffeine your child is consuming in their entire diet (cough syrups, cocoa, chocolate bars, pop, ice tea) before you add any amount of coffee. If you're concerned, to put it into perspective, 1 oz of coffee will have about 15 mg of caffeine, 1.5 oz of dark chocolate OR a can of coke has about 34 mg!
I had to get your attention with an awesome title (hopefully I did because you're reading this now), but although I give me kids coffee, it's only a very small amount mixed into an nutrient-dense super-drink that we call the 'Hug in a Mug' at our house. This drink is a favorite on cold winter mornings - the minerals help support their bones and teeth, and actually aid in healthy digestive function. The little bit of coffee does all the wonderful things above and just basically gets them turned 'on' and ready for the day ahead. They have this drink maybe 3-4x/week. I'll admit, some days they may not even get the coffee, because I've drank it all by the time they've come downstairs!
Here's my recipe for Hug in a Mug:
-Fill your mug 3/4 full with your 'milk' of choice (we use almond milk) - Make sure it's WARM!
-Add 2-3 TBSP of St. Francis Mineral Matrix
-Optional: Add 1/2-1 oz. of freshly brewed coffee
-Mix in 1/2 - 1 tsp raw honey
Stir and Enjoy!
Oh, and if you missed it last time, I also love using the Mineral Matrix in this AWESOME summer-time snack for the kids - Peach & Yogurt Popsicles!! You'll definitely want to try them - your kids won't know what hit them!
Ok, that's it for now! If you like what I'm putting out you'll want to click the image above and get my 3 fabulous tips (that I love and recommend DAILY to my patients). Peace out!
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