Energy drinks have become wildly popular among children in recent years.  Many adolescents and teenagers believe that these drinks relieve fatigue and improve physical performance.  The most common active ingredient in these drinks is caffeine.  Several other chemicals found in these drinks share similar effects to caffeine.  Energy drinks contain between 80mg and 300mg per 250ml can (BMJ 2009;339:b5268).  Coffee contains about 90mg per 250ml.  Caffeine in moderate amounts has been shown to have positive health benefits, however the high amounts in energy drinks and the many variations of "natural substances" found in these products is untested in children.  Moderate doses of caffeine can improve concentration and physical endurance in adults.  High doses of caffeine can cause can cause anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness, gastrointestinal problems, and irregular heart rhythm.

Should your child be checked for high cholesterol?  What do the lab test mean?  And what is cholesterol anyway?  Well, here goes... cholesterol is white crystalline substance found in animal tissues.  It is vital for cell membranes and can be turned into hormones (like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol), vitamin D, and bile acids.  Cholesterol is found in basically all animal food products such as meats, eggs, and milk.  If eaten in excess, cholesterol may collect in the blood vessel walls and lead to heart disease or other vascular problems (i.e., strokes, peripheral artery disease, etc.).  Even though cholesterol is an important substance for the body, you don't need to eat any.  Your body has the ability to create all the cholesterol it needs.  Certain things in the diet can cause your body to make too much cholesterol (such as trans fats, saturated fats, and dietary cholesterol). 

Did you know that you can add this website to your iPhone or iPod Touch?  Just hit the plus sign at the bottom of the Safari web browser on your iPhone when you are on DrTummy.com, and choose "Add to Home Screen."  You may wish to rename the page DrTummy so the name doesn't show up as "DrTum...com".  I am investigating ways to make DrTummy more iPhone friendly.  I'll post updates on my progress!  Thanks!