Lorelai Gilmore from "Gilmore Girls" is infamous for her ridiculous amount of coffee intake. Every day she wakes up, heads to Luke’s, is served her usual steaming cup of java, and her day is extremely caffeinated from there. Rory isn’t much better. Being a coffee fan myself, I like to think I’m channeling my inner Rory Gilmore: a big cup of steaming coffee at my fingertips as I write a newspaper article or as I am struggling through my English essay. However, one of the most prominent differences between Rory and me, despite the fact that she has the most amazing life ever, is that Rory still goes to bed at night while I’m left awake tossing and turning and regretting all of my life decisions that culminated in getting a caramel macchiato at 9:30 p.m. in the library. Yes, you can say I’m addicted to coffee.
Although coffee has a myriad of positive effects on the body, mind and sanity of a college student, such as preventing certain cancers, lowering the risks of Parkinson’s and dementia and contributing to an increase in memory and concentration, it can also be detrimental in the long run. According to AARP, the healthy amount of coffee per day is 300 milligrams or three 8-ounce cups. When one exceeds that amount, the results can, very rarely, become fatal.
Caffeine is the culprit of indigestion, heartburn, and heart effects while the coffee beans themselves are responsible for an increase of acidity in the stomach and small intestines which can lead to indigestion and ulcers. Also, when one drinks too much coffee, they can impact their kidneys and reduce mineral absorption that is needed to maintain good health.
Ironically, coffee makes you more stressed out than you already are. This is because, with the increase of caffeine comes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and tension levels. This provides a false sense of energy, and really it is the tension of your body that makes your productivity increase while at the same time going back to the “natural fight or flight response” according to Health Ambition.
Researcher in behavioral pharmacology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Steven Meredith, told AARP that, “Caffeine is a drug. While low to moderate doses are generally safe, caffeine is addictive and users can become dependent on it and find it difficult to quit or even cut back.” I knew I had a coffee problem when I found myself needing two large cups per day in order to function and do my looming pile of homework and my many club meetings. When I didn’t have a cup of coffee, my hands would start shaking and I would get a pounding headache.
Caffeine is very addictive and giving it up is very hard to do because, according to Caffeineinformer, it can lead to migraines, sleepiness, irritability, lethargy and depression among many other symptoms. Caffeineinformer states that the reason “caffeine is so addictive is because the molecule itself fits so perfectly into our brain’s adenosine receptors. [This is because] Adenosine is responsible for telling the brain when it is time to rest or sleep, [and caffeine molecules block the receptors. As a result,] over time, the brain adds more adenosine receptors to compensate for the caffeine, which causes a “tolerance” to build up to the caffeine molecule.” When one doesn’t drink their usual caffeine amount, the brain’s adenosine and dopamine levels decrease considerably, resulting in the chemistry of the brain being out of balance according to Caffeineinformer.
Even though too much of a good thing in the form of coffee can have many negative impacts on the body. When tempered, coffee can lead to a longer life. This is because, according to AARP, it prevents coffee drinkers from having heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries, accidents, diabetes (especially Type II) and infections.
Coffee is a lifesaver for college students in the short run, but the next time you buy a cup of coffee, think about the effects it will have on you and your body in the long run. I know for me: my motto, “Go big or go home,” will not be applying to my consumption of coffee. Less is more. Drink responsibly.
