Pro: Students are Better With A Boost

NATALIE MIRANDA Reporter @natalierosemir

In all its diverse forms, caffeine consumption bring pleasure to students seeking a little pick me up throughout the day. Research suggests that caffeine provides improved cognitive function, alertness and memory, while decreasing health-related risks of developing heart disease caused by inflammation.

Most commonly consumed in the form of coffee, tea or soft drinks, these types of beverages are easily accessible to students both on and off campus. Whether students are waking up to head to class, need a mid-afternoon coffee run, or plan on staying up for late night study sessions. Coffee is there to keep students focused, while providing them with a multitude of bene

A necessity for most students, caffeine can offer an energy boost at any time of the day for those who are plagued with fatigue. Students who drink caffeine can expect to be more alert, which can help them focus when it matters most: in the classroom.

A boost of caffeine can help students refocus in stressful situations. In a study, researchers found when cognitive performance must be maintained during severe stress, adequate doses of caffeine can improve cognitive function, memory, learning and mood. Caffeine was seen to provide a significant advantage to logical reasoning while under pressure with limited sleep, according to a nmiranda.roundupnews@gmail.com or the ASO, it can benefit their minds.

"Whydidthetomatoblush?

Because he saw the tomato dressing."

Psychopharmacology study.

Cognitive function and decreased risk of heart disease have also been linked to caffeine consumption. A study conducted by the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aginga, found that caffeine acts as a brain stimulant, and releases excitatory brain chemicals by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain. This process has been linked to improved cognitive function, performance, verbal memory and attention, while also potentially slowing the progression of decreasing mental function caused by aging. Also, because caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, this has been linked to the reduction of inflammation.

Caffeine can aid students in retaining information and improve memory. Memorizing key lecture points, notes and textbook information is easier to accomplish when caffeine is in your system according to a Nature Neuroscience journal. Their research showed that caffeine enhances memory up to 24 hours after consumption.

Caffeine: whether it's hot, iced, bubbly, black, or served with cream. Students can expect to reap the rewards that come in every cup. Caffeine play a role in many student’s lives, and it’s not only a source of energy, but it’s also beneficial all around. Caffeine has been found helpful in all of the above: cognitive function, alertness, memory and decreasing inflammation that could lead to heart disease.

The University of Michigan’s website has tips and facts for students that have trouble staying awake in classes because of long days.

“A nap lasting 15 to 45 minutes, can give you energy, make you more alert and improve mental performance,” according to the website.

DANIELA TORRES Campus Life Editor @DT_1129

Caffeine is a great way to get yourself up and going when you’re feeling a little low on energy. A lot of us wake up every morning and brew ourselves a nice warm cup of coffee before class or work, and some of us might pick up a couple of energy drinks to pull an all-nighter for an essay that’s due the next day. But, what most of us don’t realize is that drinking too much caffeine is harmful to our health.

Caffeine is addictive, although some consumers may deny it. It is known to be the highest consumed psychoactive drug. And yes, it’s a drug. A psychoactive drug just like tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. Researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago found that more than 250 medical cases at the Illinois Poison Center were due to caffeine ingestion.

The average American drinks about 2.1 coffee drinks per day and this number increases with age, according to an article on HuffPost. This is only coffee. There are many other soft drinks consumed by Americans throughout their day that contain caffeine.

It is unhealthy to consume over 400 milligrams of caffeine. According to an article on Mayo Clinic, that’s about the amount that four cups of coffee, or two energy drinks,

The hippocampus plays a strong role in associative memory, suggesting that naps benefit hippocampus-dependent learning, according to the “Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.” newsroom.roundupnews@gmail.com contains. If you like to add an espresso shot to your coffee, that’s 80 more milligrams of caffeine that you’re adding. If you’re drinking more than two cups of coffee, plus energy drinks, or a soft drink here and there, don’t you think you’re cutting it a little too close? dtorres.roundupnews@gmail.com

With that, students that have a place to study and an area to relax do better in class.

Also, if you’re someone who likes to hit the gym often and take supplements like preworkout, that’s another 100-200 milligrams of caffeine added to your daily intake.

Not only does drinking caffeine harm your health, but it picks your pocket. According to an article on abcnews. go.com, people typically pay $14.40 a week on coffee, and this doesn’t even include the cost of drinking coffee at home. On average, people spend over $1,000 a year on just coffee.

If you feel that you absolutely can’t go through the day without any caffeine, there are healthy alternatives that you can try out. Fitday.com lists 5 substitution ideas for caffeine such as ginkgo biloba (herbal extract), ginseng, vitamin B12, ice cold water in the morning and simply eating an apple along with stretching. These alternatives all provide a similar wakefulness effect that caffeine does, and are way more healthier (and cheaper).

Take a break from your everyday caffeine consumption and abide to something more accommodating to your health and bank account.

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