Do adolescents drink too much caffeine? It is tempting in college to grab a quick coffee when studying for an exam or working on a project. However, a large number of students feel they cannot function daily without coffee or some type of caffeine. Caffeine is a drug, it is readily available to all as a socially acceptable psychoactive substance. Not only coffee, but tea and sodas also have caffeine. It is necessary to explore how “safe” it is for adolescence and young adults. The Mayo Clinic states that a maximum of 100 mg of caffeine is safe for adolescents, and none for any children younger than 14. Many adolescents are consuming between 60-800 mg of caffeine per day based upon prior studies. These intake levels can induce anxiety, sleeping issues, tremors, heart palpitations, gastrointestinal issues and even death. It is interesting that although it is a drug, caffeine is so accepted that there are coffee shops and cafes everywhere you go. It is the only brain influencing drug I can think of that is not severely frowned upon or illegal.
Short video about students from Texas Tech and their opinions on daily coffee consumption.
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ReplyDeleteInteresting post Christina! Speaking from personal experience, I hardly drink coffee, because it makes me nauseous. But I am constantly surrounded by people who cannot survive or go a day without it. It was great to learn about more of the negative symptoms that are caused as a result of drinking too much coffee.
ReplyDeleteThis post was very interesting. I know for me, I cannot survive the day without coffee. Every morning I wake up and drink a coffee and that still isn't enough. Sometimes I even drink a Red Bull or a 5 hour energy later that day. I guess you could say I am pretty addicted to caffeine!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! It is crazy to see how people depend on caffeine. I know that I am one of them. I cannot go a day without a cup of coffee in the morning and if I am at school I usually need at least two cups.
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