By Karina Zarate
Caffeine is a substance that is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, cola drinks, and certain medicines. It causes several effects on the human body’s metabolism, including stimulation of the central nervous system.
Caffeine has the capacity to make a person feel more alert and increase energy. But even though college students have easy access to caffeine, is it beneficial or does it bring more harm to them upon consumption?
In a survey of fifty students from different colleges in Texas A&M International University, almost seven out of ten for each college reported consuming excessive habitual amounts of caffeine.
Of these seven students, some of them confessed to drinking caffeine as a matter of necessity. Caffeine aids them in staying awake and carrying out or performing their daily tasks without falling into the temptation to close their eyes for rest.
Caffeine in moderate amounts is safe for most people. However, college students tend to drink an excessive amount of coffee in order to stay awake while studying, doing homework, or working projects.
Some researchers state that caffeine can help boost focus and improve memory function, and that the recommended amount of coffee consumed should be at no more than three cups a day.
However, most college students drink about ten or more cups a day. College students drink coffee with the purpose of being energized and increasing productivity in order to meet the demands of school and work.
Some harmful effects of caffeine abuse include insomnia, anxiety, flushed skin, gastrointestinal problems, and addiction.
But caffeine also has some positive side effects. If taken in moderation, a cup of coffee helps in the digestion process. A group of researchers at the National Academy of Sciences found that it even helps prevent skin cancer, promotes hair growth stimulants, and acts as a colon and liver detoxifier.
Caffeine has its harms and benefits, but consuming it in moderation is the key to good health. If consumed in excess, it can cause some serious problems with additional consequences. Though if taken in moderate amounts, the benefits will outweigh the harms; however, the effects will always vary depending on each individual.
