COFFEE: YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY?

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Beatriz Sison in Op-Ed

By Beatriz Sison
Crimson Chronicle Reporter

Every morning at school, I always see people walking around and drinking coffee from Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Throughout my years here, I have noticed that more and more students are drinking coffee. Now I wonder if students know the effect of caffeine in their bodies.

I drink coffee, too. I drink a few times a week whenever I don’t get enough sleep from school work and other activities to wake me up and give me energy in the morning or when I just want to hang out with my friends, but I didn’t know what can the caffeine to do my body until I researched it.

According to Teens Health website, teenagers should limit their caffeine consumption to no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily. Drinking too much coffee can cause anxiety, dizziness, headaches, and jitters. It can also interfere with sleep.

Before, the only thing I knew about drinking coffee was that it increases your mental awareness and gives you energy. Who knew something so beneficial could be capable of doing such damage?

         Coffee                       Caffeine (mg) ranges from tall-venti     

• Brewed Coffee                        260 mg -410 mg
• Cappuccino                             75 mg-150 mg
• Caramel (Frappuccino)       70 mg- 130 mg
• Java Chip (Frappuccino)    75 mg- 145 mg
• Caffe Americano                   150 mg-300 mg

(Some of Starbucks Caffeine Content)