Every morning when I get on campus, I walk through café 101. I can smell the freshly brewed coffee and the long line of students just waiting to get their own. For a college student, the most common drink to start their day is coffee. Some cannot even function without having their first cup of coffee. A lot of people feel good and energized after drinking their first cup. It’s the effect of the caffeine working on the body. After some time, the effects of the caffeine wear off and many feel that crash. This is where you feel tired and need to get another cup. Caffeine is very addictive and it is no surprise if someone is on their second, third or fourth cup of coffee.
What many students don’t know the dangers caffeine has on the body. Thecollegehelper.com notes that,
“Taking in too much caffeine can have serious health effects on your body. In the most severe cases, students can experience a form of caffeine intoxication when their caffeine intake is too much. Caffeine intoxication can cause irregular heart rates and disorientation. Some longer term effects include damage to sleep cycles, stomach ulcers, heartburn, increased depression and anxiety, and for women, it can also cause the formation of breast cysts.”
From thelatern.com,
"Caffeine can also make you jittery, and if you have heart disease or hypertension, coffee is certainly not good because it will increase your heart rate. At around 300-400 milligrams of caffeine intake, which isn't very hard to do, it increases urinary calcium excretion, which is bad for women. Once your body is used to caffeine, you can also experience withdrawal symptoms when you don't have any, such as headaches and dizziness."
A substitute to drinking caffeine, thelatern.com suggests, "Obviously, the best alternative is to just get some extra sleep. Working out is also a great alternative, even just a brisk 10 or 15 minute walk." If you must have your coffee, it is wise to drink it in moderation.
Energy drinks are a second common drink that college students choose to begin their day. Some of the popular brands are Red Bull, Rockstar, and Monster etc. I usually see students in my classes drinking an energy drink if they are not drinking coffee. Energy drinks contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar. Caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone are three common ingredients found in energy drinks. Like coffee, energy drinks are addictive and students tend to consume more and more.
An article Energy Drinks and Health Risks points out the health risks from caffeine in energy drinks,
“An increased level of caffeine in the body can lead to stomach problems, panic attacks, anxiety, and cardiac arrhythmias. Caffeine is also known to mask the symptoms of fatigue. When symptoms of fatigue are not apparent, the body is already overworked while the person is continuing to do activity, which puts further strain on the heart.” Energy drinks do not hydrate the body and leads to dehydration.
There are healthy alternatives to drinking energy drinks. A drink called Purple has 7 fruits that are loaded with antioxidants—blueberry, black cherry, black currant, acai, pomegranate, cranberry and purple plum. Purple has no added sugar or chemicals. POM pomegranate juice is another healthy alternative that is full of antioxidants.
Soda is another drink that appears around campus. Just like coffee and energy drinks, it contains sugar. Soda is insignificant to the body and has no nutritional value. It is often filled with artificial coloring and artificial flavoring. Sodas contribute to obesity and diabetes, which is a common health problem in our world today. Everyday Health states,
“Soda is loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener that has been linked to obesity. Soda consumption also has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, both due to its sugar content and its effects on the body's hormones. And diet soda? It may not be any better. At least one study has linked artificial sweeteners, such as those used in diet sodas, to increased appetite, greater difficulty losing weight, and a harder time maintaining weight loss.”
Since it is also addictive, excessive drinking can damage your teeth. The carbolic acid weakens tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay and cavities.
Some of us get so caught up in drinking coffee, energy drinks and soda. In doing that, water gets often neglected. Water is the big shot on campus. Water fountains are located everywhere in all buildings. So it’s easy to gain access to water. We may drink a cup or a bottle of water, but that isn’t enough for our body. About 60% of the human body is made of water. We also lose water from our bodies,
“The body must excrete a minimum of about 500 milliliters (about 2 cups) of water each day as urine—enough to carry away the waste products generated by a day’s metabolic activities. If a person drinks more water, the kidneys excrete more urine, and the urine becomes more dilute. In addition to urine, water is lost from the lungs as vapor and from the skin as sweat; some is also lost in feces. The amount of fluid varies, depending on the environment (such as heat or humidity) and physical conditions (such as exercise or fever). On average, daily losses total about 2.5 liters” (Whitney, and Rolfes).
All of us have heard the saying of, “drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” Water needs depend on one’s “diet, activity, environmental temperature, and humidity” (Whitney, and Rolfes). The Adequate Intake of water for men is about 3 liters (about 12 cups) and for women is about 2 liters (about 9 cups).
Water does have health benefits, mayclinic.com says, “water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.” Dehydration can occur if one is not drinking enough water. I personally do not drink coffee, energy drinks or soda. I prefer drinking water since it’s widely available. Water is refreshing, calorie-free and healthy.
 |
| Drinking water is so cool! =] |
No comments:
Post a Comment