Guilford runs on caffeine

Guilford+runs+on+caffeine

Mathew Huf, Reporter

High School students are under a lot of pressure. They have to make time for many extracurricular activities, such as homework, friends, sports, and jobs. Some students get up as early as four in the morning to start their day. Some fall asleep in the middle of class. Many resort to extraneous amounts of caffeine to get through a long day of hard work.

“I drink Caramel Cappuccino and sometimes iced coffees and frappes from McDonalds,” said Ivan Hernandez, senior. “Sometimes when drinking it, I get stomach aches.”

Can caffeine have negative effects on student’s health? It does have short term effects. Teenagers’ caffeine intake can in some cases mess up their sleep schedule.

“I believe that students should understand that caffeine is a chemical that affects the body,” said Mr. Jeremiah Tews, health teacher.  “Just like if a student took an aspirin it could help, but if they took a lot of aspirin then it could cause medical issues like a bleeding ulcer. My advice to students is to understand what you are putting into your body and how can it affect your body.”

Alternative healthier drinks include various types of tea, coconut water, and apple cider. These choices provide a natural boost of energy and are also less addictive.

“An alternative method to stimulate the body is working out or reading your social media account,” said Mr. Tews. “Working out stimulates the neural response like caffeine in more of a natural way. This is the best method. Doing five minutes of push-ups or squats in the morning will boost your energy level. Looking at your social media accounts stimulates the nervous system by releasing certain neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) to stimulate your social-emotional responses. This can create a positive or negative emotion which, either way, will stimulate a person to wake up in the morning.”