Visit the library or the University Student Union on any weekday and you are sure to find long lines of students clamoring for their daily dose of caffeine from Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
With vending machines, convenience stores and coffee shops selling tea, coffee, energy drinks and sodas, Cal State Long Beach has no shortage of stimulating beverages to keep sleep-deprived students awake and alert.
“I drink a Red Bull pretty much every day,” said Brent Campanelli, a junior English major. He said he often needs the energy jolt around mid-morning, a few hours after waking up.
Kristin Hata, a senior communications major, said she also drinks about one caffeinated beverage per day, and usually enjoys a cup of tea around dinner time.
Caffeine is the most popular and widely used drug in the world, according to the Coffee Science Information Centre. This well-known stimulant drug affects the body by increasing the flow of adrenaline and causing the pupils to dilate, the heart to beat faster, the muscles to tighten and the blood vessels to constrict, reports the Caffeine Awareness Alliance.
Digestion is not required for caffeine to take effect, as it is quickly absorbed through the stomach into the bloodstream. According to the National Sleep Foundation, results can be felt within 15 minutes after consumption, and “once in the body, caffeine will persist for several hours: it takes about six hours for one half of the caffeine to be eliminated.”
Caffeine has also been known to temporarily increase metabolism, suppress hunger and increase alertness, which is why so many sleepy students rely on a cup of coffee or an energy drink to get through the day.
Like any other drug, there are negative side effects to consuming caffeine. According to the NSF, it can also reduce fine motor coordination; cause insomnia, headaches, nervousness and dizziness; [and result in] anxiety, irritability, rapid heartbeat, excessive urination, sleep disturbances, and a “caffeine crash” once the effects wear off.
Both Hata and Campanelli said they have experienced downsides to consuming too much caffeine, most frequently headaches and tiredness.
“One time I drank too much coffee and then felt like I was having an anxiety attack,” Hata said.
Her experience is not uncommon, particularly for those who do not consume large amounts of caffeine on a daily basis, and have a low tolerance to the stimulant drug.
Numerous research studies have been published regarding the various health effects of caffeine, yet many findings seem to contradict each other. Even the NSF and CoSIC disagree on whether or not caffeine is addictive or causes physical dependence.
While the question whether caffeine consumption is good or bad for health still awaits definitive answers, there is one thing that research and medical experts seem to agree on: moderation.
“Three 8 oz. cups of coffee (250 milligrams of caffeine) per day is considered a moderate amount of caffeine,” the NSF reports. “Six or more 8 oz. cups of coffee per day is considered excessive intake of caffeine,” and could lead to negative health effects.
