27 Hot or Iced?

December 5, 2013

hot or iced? hot or iced? By: Lucy Erika Magat Staff Writer

Caffeinated drinks have been a source of energy for many decades now, with coffee being one of the most popular choices. Many fast food chains are now offering coffee and tea, while gas stations and grocery stores are selling numerous flavors of energy drinks as well. This has made it more convenient than ever before to grab a cup on the way to wherever you’re going.

With that, it is no surprise that college students are now increasingly reliant on coffee to provide a needed boost to get through the day. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, 92% of students consumed some form of caffeine within the school year and the mean daily intake, which included non-consumers, reached 159 mg/d. The same study also found that college students’ main form of caffeine consumption is through coffee, with men consuming 120 mg/d and women with 111 mg/d on average.

For comparison, the recommended daily intake by the Mayo Clinic is 400 mg/d, which means that college students, generally, are consuming more than ¼ of their daily caffeine intake through coffee alone.

I am definitely no stranger to this phenomenon. Closer to midterms and finals, I find myself consuming at least two cups of coffee a day. That's added to the tea that I regularly drink and caffeinated food I eat, like chocolate.

So, why are college students so dependent on caffeine? From the same study, students’ top reasoning is “to feel awake,” as about 79% of them listed that as their main reasoning. In an article published by the National Sleep Foundation, young adults, which encompasses traditional college students’ ages 18-25, are recommended to sleep for seven to nine hours, but less than 10% of this age group receives that amount. Because of sleep deprivation being common among college students, caffeinated beverages are forms of quick energy that get students through their classes and extracurricular activities.

Additionally, coffee shops are popping up left and right. Nationally, there are 22,842 coffee shops; however, this number does not include fast food chains, like McDonald’s and Wendy’s, which have included coffees and teas in their menus. Just within a five mile radius of the University of St. Francis (USF), there are at least 9 Dunkins, 2 Starbucks, 9 McDonalds and 5 local coffee shops, like Jitters and Kafe de Kasa. Not to mention, our own Three Oaks Bistro sells Pure Canopy coffee, which means students do not even need to leave campus to get their daily dose of caffeine.

Grocery stores are also now selling energy drinks in bulk, which makes it more convenient and affordable for college students who often have limited budgets. For example, Bang, an energy drink famous for its many flavors, is sold at Costco in packs of 24 cans, which is lighter on the wallet when individual cans can easily cost $2 each. For reference, one can of Bang can contain 300 mg of caffeine. As pointed out by an article published in the USF Encounter back in 2013, this amount of caffeine would equate to 4 cups of coffee.

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that instantly promotes alertness, enhances concentration and boosts your mood: all things college students are desperately seeking. Adesuwa Imafidon, a nursing student at USF, said, “I’ve noticed that many students have formed quite a dependence on caffeine, especially with how little sleep we get from staying up to study, followed by early classes. Despite this, many of my peers still come in to class with their coffee from Starbucks or Dunkin’, and I am definitely not exempt from this. I find myself drinking more tea or soda some days as an attempt to gain energy to get me through the day.”

Just like with any type of drug, daily intake of caffeine can lead to tolerance, which can lead to increased consumption to feel the same effects. Because of this, it is important to regulate one’s intake, as too much caffeine may lead to some health issues. If you are someone who has to drink something that can give you a boost, tea, as explained by the same USF Encounter article mentioned above, is a great substitute! It contains less caffeine than coffee and energy drinks and can be customized just as many ways as coffee can.

No matter what you do in order to get through your busy schedule, whether that is working out early, taking a cold shower as soon as you get up or a cup of coffee, your health should always be a top priority. In the meantime, as long as it is not harming you, go warm yourself up this winter with a hot cup of coffee (or tea)!