It’s not considered a dangerous substance by the government, nor is it considered taboo by society. It’s easily one of the world’s most popular beverages. Establishments here on campus sell it all over the place and the lines are rarely short because it’s all about the coffee.
When consumed moderately, coffee can be an enjoyable drink. You can add different kinds of creamer to give it a distinct flavor, or sweeten it with sugar and honey. But does it come as any surprise excessive amounts of coffee and caffeine aren’t good for you?
As busy college students, our day-to-day activities require a high level of energy and fresh minds, but a stimulant in the form of coffee shouldn’t play a leading role in that equation.
Exercise, a healthy diet and enough sleep can help us accomplish what we search for in coffee. Starbucks specialty drinks with colorful syrups and whipped cream can be tempting, but moderation is the name of the game. We can’t forget the strength of the caffeine in a single cup of coffee and its effects on our health if consumed in large amounts.
According to NPR, caffeine is a white powder derived from a natural insecticide found in plants.
Author Murray Carpenter told NPR caffeine is often underestimated as a drug. Approximately 10 grams – or a spoonful — can be powerful enough to kill you. In addition, Carpenter said the caffeine in many soft drinks, another beverage enjoyed by many, is synthetic and made in Chinese factories.
It’s no secret most of our guilty pleasures are anything but healthy. They can trigger all sorts of medical problems and issues. Even with all of the health risks involved, caffeine isn’t painted the same way as junk food in mainstream society. Because coffee drinkers know their favorite beverage won’t clog arteries or fill their lungs with toxic smoke, they get caught up in the few things it does manage to accomplish.
Coffee helps keep students stay awake when during those late-night cram sessions. It acts as a jump start to the day after a long night. It’s definitely not hard to find it on campus, or anywhere around town, to be honest. Even though its side effects don’t seem as serious as clogged arteries, less serious effects should still deter people from drinking too much coffee.
Business management senior Fernanda Cancino doesn’t consider herself a coffee drinker because she isn’t a fan of the taste. She said she only drinks it when she needs to be fully awake and alert in the morning. That being said, she can see the possibility of being addicted to coffee if her reliability increases.
“I know I can reach the point where I’ll start depending on coffee every morning,” Cancino said.
Although Cancino has heard coffee has certain benefits, such as antioxidants, she doesn’t think it’s worth the yellow teeth or laxative effect.
I have coffee from time to time with a shot of espresso and never remember caffeine is essentially a drug with every sip. My vanilla chai tea latte from Peabody’s is too tasty for me to think about that anyways. But some of the facts about coffee and caffeine are too eye-opening to disregard next time I have a cup of coffee to relax.
According to a fact sheet from the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at John Hopkins University, small doses of caffeine (20-200 mg) mostly produce positive mood effects, such as increased well-being, happiness, alertness and sociability. While large caffeine doses (200 mg or greater) may produce negative mood effects, such as increased anxiety, jitteriness and an upset stomach.
Individual differences in sensitivity and tolerance affect the severity and probability of experiencing these negative effects.
Regardless of tolerance, caffeine addiction is a thing. Besides being dependent on it from day to day, one may also experience negative physical effects. I don’t know about you, but that’s the last thing I need as a busy student.
We’re young and our bodies need to be healthy despite the stress we undergo every day. It’s not wrong to have a cup of your favorite brew sparingly, but feeling good doesn’t always come in a to-go cup—especially if it’s devouring your wallet at the same time.
