Check your PULSE: The buzz on caffeine

It’s the third week of the quarter, and you know what that means! It’s midterm-takin’ time. For some college students, this means their caffeine intake will be gradually increasing until the end of the quarter. Caffeine can be used to help restore mental alertness for those of us that are experiencing tiredness or fatigue. It is not intended to replace sleep on a regular basis, but really, what college student doesn’t need some kind of pick-me-up from time to time?

Around 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another every single day. More than half of all Americans consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine (the equivalent of three cups of coffee) every day, making it America’s most popular drug by far. Among its many actions, it operates using the same mechanisms that amphetamines, cocaine and heroin use to stimulate the brain. This explains why some of us can’t fathom getting through the morning without some source of caffeine.

Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, soft drinks and, my personal favorite, chocolate! The effects of caffeine are different for everyone. For example, there are people who can drink coffee and fall right asleep, and there are those that can barely drink decaf without feeling jittery. I’ve heard multiple mixed reviews on caffeine, so I decided to give you both sides of the story.

Cons

Caffeine does boost blood pressure, which might not be good for you if it’s happening all the time. Repeated elevations in blood pressure and increases in your reactions to daily stress that occur with caffeine intake could boost the risk of heart disease.

Caffeine may cause nervousness, irritability, trouble sleeping, dizziness or a pounding heartbeat. Some of the other down sides of coffee is that it can cause blurred vision, dry mouth, excessive urination, nausea, stomachache and unusual thirst. Coffee withdrawals cause blood pressure to drop dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head and leading to a headache.

Another negative aspect of caffeine results when it is mixed with alcohol, such as the popular drink Red Bull and vodka. This creates a false sense of alertness, which might make someone feel that they are sober enough to drive. This dangerous mixture also increases heart rate and possibly leads to increased liver damage.

Studies also prove that caffeine may cause the body to lose calcium, and that can lead to bone loss over time. Caffeine stays in our bodies between three and seven hours, and since coffee is a diuretic, it could increase chances of dehydration and thus fatigue. Drinking caffeinated soft drinks and coffee instead of milk can have an even greater impact on bone density and the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Pros

Caffeine can boost both your mental and physical stamina. It makes you more alert, boosting your concentration. Caffeine can help you work out with longer endurance, increased muscle strength, less fatigue and more rapid recovery. It increases the body’s metabolism by around 10 percent. Females metabolize caffeine 20 to 30 percent more quickly than males. However, it can take twice as long to metabolize caffeine when women are taking certain medications, such as oral contraceptives.

Caffeine has been shown to decrease liver cancer, asthma, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and colon cancer. Caffeine can also stop a headache, boost mood and lift depression. There are oodles of antioxidants in coffee beans, some of which become especially potent during the roasting process. Decaf has the same antioxidant benefits as regular coffee. Drinking coffee that has been freshly roasted and brewed is more beneficial than downing coffee that is stale or badly brewed.

If you want a gentler source of caffeine that also has antioxidant benefits, try green tea. Certain compounds in green tea called catechins have anti-oxidative, antibacterial and even antiviral potency. American researchers reported that these same compounds inhibited the hardening of the arteries. Both green and black teas contain polyphenols, which have been proven to prevent many types of cancers. If you want your caffeine and a sweet treat, chocolate has a bit of caffeine and appears to be a particularly good source of antioxidants and may offer cardiovascular benefits as well.

So now you are armed with the facts. Please drink responsibly.

Sarah Bailey is a nutrition senior, a Mustang Daily nutrition columnist and a member of PULSE. E-mail her your questions at slbailey@calpoly.edu.