Written by: Jaylyn Hamilton

When it comes to caffeine, there can be positive effects, as well as negative effects. However, the negative effects could outweigh the positives. Everyone knows that caffeine gives us energy, depending on the amount we intake. But, does everyone know that it can also do the very opposite? Do the pros of caffeine outweigh the cons? 

Caffeine is classified as a stimulant drug that increases activity in the body. People all over the world drink caffeine for different reasons. One of the most popular reasons is that it helps them feel more energized. Caffeine can come in different forms including energy drinks, sodas, coffees, teas and more. 

“Energy drinks are one of the worst sources of caffeine and should be avoided,” said Mallory Myers, who teaches health at Salem Middle School. She is also the athletic trainer for Salem Community Schools. 

Many students in school drink caffeine. Some drink it because they like the way it tastes, while others do because it gives them energy. But, do they know what the effects are and that there are alternatives?

High school sophomore Mackenzie Gill drinks about one to two caffeinated drinks a day, most typically the Alani energy drinks. When she takes a break from caffeine for a bit, she experiences cravings for the drinks. 

“I think it can wake me up in the morning, but I honestly just like the way it tastes,” said Gill. However, she still does have concerns about what it can do for her health, specifically her heart. She knows that if you drink too much caffeine that it can be very harmful to her heart health. 

Sophomore Kaylen Mather also drinks energy drinks. She drinks Monster and Alani energy drinks because she likes the taste. She also drinks them because it makes her feel more awake. Mather drinks about one to two a week. She doesn’t worry too much about the effects of caffeine because she does not think she drinks enough to be harmful to her. However, she believes that caffeine can cause heart problems if consumed enough. 

Obviously, caffeine intake is different for everybody depending on health, preference and more. On average, the normal intake for an adult is about 100-200 milligrams a day. People, in late teens and early twenties, typically drink the most caffeine compared to other age groups. The most preferred and favorite caffeinated beverage is coffee. Coffee has about 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine in it, which is a lot healthier than most energy drinks. 

“Highly active people should avoid excessive caffeine consumption, especially prior to any exercise,” said Myers. “Specifically, athletes should not consume energy drinks prior to any practice, game or workout where they will be exerting high amounts of energy.”

People who exercise regularly and are highly active should avoid caffeine, especially before any sort of exercise. Drinking a caffeinated beverage in fusion with exercise can cause your body to overwork and lead to quick dehydration. 

“Caffeine can cause the body to eliminate water and when consumed in large amounts could cause dehydration,” said Gwinn Miller, who teaches health and physical education at Salem High School. 

Caffeine can affect the body positively, if taken in small amounts. Some people, not all, say that caffeine helps them feel more energized, alert, concentrated, and ready for the day. However, that doesn’t mean that you should drink caffeine in large amounts. 

“Artificial increased stimulation specifically on the cardiovascular system puts a lot of stress on the function of the heart and how fast it pushes blood throughout the blood vessels,” said Myers. 

Larger doses of caffeine can cause many negative effects, such as too much caffeine, even small amounts depending on the person, can cause anxiety, restlessness, impaired ability to sleep, fatigue, chest pain and a high heart rate. Sometimes, people experience caffeine withdrawal. 

“It is definitely addictive and when you try to go a few days without it you can experience some of the worst headaches (symptoms of withdrawal)!” said Miller.

In severe cases, it can cause seizures, death, digestive issues, high blood pressure and overdoses. Since caffeine is classified as a drug and provides symptoms that drugs do, it can even cause death. Caffeine overdose is possible when you drink caffeine too much or too often. Overdose from caffeine comes with many symptoms; major/hazardous symptoms include: trouble breathing, hallucinations, seizures, fever, irregular/rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. 

So this might answer the big question: Do the pros of caffeine outweigh the cons? No. The negative effects and risks of caffeine are way higher than anything good it can do for the body. There are different ways to obtain energy, rather than just consuming it. 

“The best way to have plenty of energy is to have a healthy lifestyle,” Miller said. Energy comes from having a healthy lifestyle. This includes having a good amount of sleep, exercise and diet. Everyone, no matter what, should focus on maintaining a good and healthy lifestyle. Not just for having energy, but for many other reasons. Having a good lifestyle comes with a lot of pros like feeling happier, having less stress, and having better sleep. 

“The best and safest option to get energy is from the food that we eat!” said Myers. “Food is the best way to get energy and fuel ourselves. We need to focus on things like macronutrients to make sure the food we eat is giving us the nutrients we need.  A healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in energy levels, so you don’t have to risk your health and spend money on caffeinated drinks.”