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Caffeine energizes student addicts |
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Tuesday, 23 October 2007 |
by NIKKI ROBERTI
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
It’s cold. It’s early. It’s your 8 a.m. class.
What’s the only thing to pry you out of your warm bed?
For some Appalachian students, it seems to be their ordinary dose of caffeine.
“I drink coffee every morning when I wake up. I don’t want to say I need it, but that wouldn’t be telling the truth,” sophomore chemistry pre-professional major Katrina L. West said. “It definitely takes me longer to wake up and concentrate on school work if I don’t drink it in the morning.”
Like West, freshman undecided major Mary K. Caudle said she can’t live without her favorite energy drink.
“I drink about two Monster energy drinks every day, probably because
they’re addictive and I can’t not drink them, but they’re also really
good and something I enjoy drinking,” said Caudle.
 W. Chapin Campbell, senior English major, enjoys espresso from Espresso News on Howard Street. Photo by Anna Donlan
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According to the Coffee Science Information Centre, West’s wake-up tactic has fact behind it.
A study conducted by the centre concluded when caffeine is consumed in
the range of doses found in many foods, it improves an individual’s
ability to perform tasks requiring sustained attention, including
automobile driving.
However, the study also states “adverse behavioral effects occur when
caffeine is consumed in excessive doses or by individuals who are
overly sensitive to the substance.”
Sophomore Spanish and psychology major Emily C. Adams mainly consumes
caffeinated items because of their taste in small quantities.
She said she doesn’t quite believe in caffeine’s ability to improve one’s attention span.
“If I am extremely tired, I can see where having a coffee or an energy
drink a few minutes before class will help me stay awake,” she said.
“But I don’t know if it will help me focus any better.”
Though researchers try to pinpoint whether or not caffeine is harmful or helpful, the topic remains controversial.
While the center’s study stated science found caffeine to increase
energy and concentration, an article written by Ng Peng Hock on
studyhealth.com said it is more of a short-term solution.
“People who consumed tea or coffee four or more times a day were three
times more likely to suffer from very low energy levels,” Hock said.
“The researcher who conducted this survey explained that caffeine will
give an immediate boost to our blood sugar level by releasing
adrenaline. Glucose is then released so that our muscle can work like
hell.”
Hock said not only does this quick fix of energy cause one to
ultimately crash in the long run, it also produces another side effect.
The excess glucose eventually turns into fat.
The burst of energy followed by the sudden crash Hock describes is one
of the reasons why freshmen theater education major Mary E. Griffith
tries to avoid caffeinated drinks.
“Caffeine gives me a sort of ‘buzz’ and I really honestly don’t want to
go and try to perform my passion to anything less than the best of my
abilities,” Griffith said. “Caffeine just gives me a shorter attention
span and that isn’t good.”
Though the over consumption of caffeine has negative effects, it is not necessarily a taboo substance.
Mary D. Coleman-Kelly is an assistant professor in the family and consumer science department at Appalachian State.
She said caffeine can be helpful when consumed in moderation.
“If a student has to have caffeine, then anywhere between 200-400 mg
but no more than 500 mg of caffeine in a single dose,” Coleman-Kelly
said. “A single dose of 500 mg of caffeine has shown to worsen thinking
abilities.”
Generally speaking, this means anything more than 3 8-oz cups of coffee
or 2 Red Bulls in one sitting can negatively affect you.
“My biggest concern is that caffeine filled drinks are replacing drinks
that have important nutrients like juice and milk,” she said. “Some
individuals can adapt to caffeine’s effects meaning that over time, it
takes more caffeine to produce the same alertness.”
Coleman-Kelly also says the drowsy feeling most students use as their
reason to grab some caffeine can be attributed to their lack of water
intake. Dehydration causes the body and mind to feel less alert.
“I recommend a student drinking a couple of large glasses of water. If that doesn’t help, then run for the caffeine,” she said.
Hock said caffeine is not something to necessarily stay away from.
“The American Heart Association has said that studies looking at a
direct link between caffeine, coffee, and heart disease have produced
conflicting results,” he said. “But one or two cups of coffee a day
does not seem harmful.”
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