Insomnia, nervousness, and irritability: these are a few of the many symptoms resulting from an excessive consumption of caffeine. Nearly 75% of American kids and teens consume caffeine on a daily basis.
Here at Hewitt, many students, especially seniors, drink caffeinated beverages like coffee to help them stay on top of their homework, projects, college applications, and after-school commitments.
When asked about how she reacts to drinking coffee, Lizzie M. ’15 reported, “My heart beats a lot faster, and I get super anxious.” Lizzie’s side effects match up with the predicted symptoms. Even with the knowledge that caffeine isn’t good for her, Lizzie believes that it is definitely better than Red Bull, and so she opts for coffee.
Afina Thiam ’15 stated, “It’s horrible that students, including me, feel the need to consume caffeine to keep themselves awake enough to finish homework. Schools and teachers need to realize everything that students are going through and try to make school easier for them.”
Afina’s viewpoint correlates with that of Dr. Marielys Rodriguez Varela, a pediatrician at Miami Children’s Hospital. Dr. Varela confirmed, “Caffeine doesn’t have a place in the diet of any child or adolescent.”
Savannah Stone ’15 told us she understands that caffeine isn’t healthy for her body, but she still drinks it, for it serves as a “staple of my study/homework regimen. The alternative options for staying awake are less appealing to me.” In fact, Savannah also admitted to making a 10pm Dunkin’ Donuts just a few weeks ago because she “needed to stay awake for a few more hours.”
It appears that all three interviewed students comprehend that caffeine isn’t good for them, yet they continue to drink it daily as something to support them and to help them succeed in their rigorous courses and busy lives.
Instead of feeling the need to purchase a caffeinated drink, teens should eat something healthy that will give them energy along with more nutritional value. But caffeine is such a common and accepted source to fuel daily activities that a world without it seems far away.
Watch the video below to learn about the science behind caffeine.