Graphic by Dani Ramirez
Written by Dennise Arriaza
Do you need to start your day with a cup of coffee to be able to function? Is it part of your morning routine? Caffeine is very popular among adults. With caffeine being in energy drinks, coffee, teas and sodas it’s hard to avoid it. How often do students consume caffeine on campus? With Gateway Hall now having a new coffee shop on campus called the Coastal Cup, there is a new place to get a caffeine fix on the go. There is also the Student Union Building which has Ekho’s Cafe, which serves Starbucks drinks as well. Coffee is not the only popular caffeinated drink people are drawn to, Red Bull and other energy drinks are popular alternatives as well. They are convenient and can be found almost anywhere offering various flavors. For Nyanzali Meza-Rios, first year pre-nursing major, one of her favorite spots to recharge is, “the SUB, their little Starbucks based shop, it’s the closest place to my classes and sometimes it’s on my route”. The SUB is a convenient spot students like to use on campus to get something to eat or simply to hang out with friends in between classes. Its location near Bell Tower and Central Mall makes it a convenient spot for those looking to make a quick stop.
What is caffeine and why do some people become heavily dependent on it? Caffeine is a chemical compound that stimulates the central nervous system and other parts of the body in control of body pressure. Caffeine may be addictive to some people, but it is not addictive like other drugs. Viviana Posadas, second year pre-nursing major with a minor in health science, said “I would happily consider myself dependent on caffeine just because I stay up so many nights studying and it’s what keeps me going. I feel like I don’t have caffeine, I feel more drained. And I like having a sweet drink to keep me going!”
Caffeine consumption will not cause severe withdrawal symptoms depending on how much you consume and how dependent you are. People seem to see caffeine as a negative thing when there are some benefits about it. We know that caffeine can boost energy levels and lift our mood and performance since it is a stimulant. It is also found to increase metabolism, which is our body’s process of turning foods and drinks into fuel for our bodies. Our exercise can also be improved since caffeine can help reduce how tired we get during a workout. While there are certain health risks like heart disease that are only linked to cases in which high amounts are consumed. There is some research showing evidence that caffeine can help prevent certain diseases like Parkinson’s and Liver disease.
While caffeine is popular and provides a lot of variation, it is important that, just like with anything, there is moderation in its consumption. Too much of anything can be bad. A caffeinated sweet treat is good when looking to treat yourself.
