Its that time of year again, finals are in the air! While the caffeine craze is all over college campuses, long term health risks are being over looked in exchange for a short term energy boost.
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| Caffeine holds a special place in many students heart, what students don’t know is that it’s damaging their heart and overall health. |
Life of a college student typically includes microwave dinners, all nighters and most importantly, caffeine. In the October 21, 2007, issue of ‘The Nutrition Journal’, a study was published in which 51 percent of 496 college students regularly resorted to coffee and other caffeinated drinks to help them in test preparation.
Ole Miss cheerleader Mary Kathryn Phillips says “I definitely know how the late night studying goes, it can be hard to balance school and practices. I find myself in the library at 2am at least twice a week. This semester I have gotten better about my caffeinated drinks but it definitely helps when I have a Coke to accompany me on my late nights!”
Caffeine is the number one psychoactive substance used in the world. It provides a morning “pick me up”, an extra surge of energy and more focus when studying. Walking around any college campus, and especially through libraries, finding someone with a Coke or a Redbull sitting next to them is no hard task.
Crash and Burn
Like most good things in life, moderation is key. Although caffeine can boost energy and help get you through your late night studying, the negative effects of caffeine are long term and outweigh the extra hours of energy.
Freshmen Elizabeth Pyron talks about the negative side to studying with caffeine. Pyron says “coming back to my room after a late night of studying I just want to sleep, but often times I can’t fall asleep because there is still so much caffeine in my system.”
There is more harm being done to your body than the famous rise and fall of energy. Sodas can cause fat build up in strange places, like around your liver and skeletal bones, which can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. It has also been directly linked to obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, cavities, gum disease, chronic dehydration, severe headaches and mood swings. Studies also show that while there is a higher energy intake there is a lower fiber intake.
Fizzy or Fit
Soft drinks are the biggest source of calories for Americans. A 2011 study done by Yale University revealed that the average American consumes 45 gallons of sugary sweetened drinks in a year; that breaks down to about 3.75 gallons a month.
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| How soft drinks impact your health. |
In just one can of soda there are over 140 calories and 10 tablespoons of sugar. In order to burn off one can of soda you would need to run for 11 minutes, or walk for 26 minutes.
Think of that the next time you pick your study drink!
Dr. Christopher Ochner says, “even if everything else in your diet is perfectly healthy, one soda a day adds on 14.5 lbs a year”, no wonder the freshmen fifteen is so easily gained!
Kick the Can
Its time to break-up with caffeine and here’s how to do it.
- Get more sleep, rest and relax.
- Slowly switch to only decaffeinated beverages (If you are about to crumble under a withdrawal headache, try green tea, it contains small traces of caffeine that can soften a headache).
- Make a list of the positive outcomes that comes with giving up caffeine and put it where you can see it.
- Drink a vast amount of water, your body just wants to be hydrated!
- Do it with a friend! Big dietary changes like this are easier when done with a friend by your side.
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