Caffeine vs Health

As helpful as a burst of energy can be, it’s not always the best choice.

Brody Bush, Reporter

Caffeine can be a very helpful tool when you need a bit of energy, but it must be used with caution. While caffeine can be very useful when you need to stay up all night working on a project, it can have serious detrimental effects on your body, mind, and attitude. 

Typically, caffeine is a tool used late at night, and early in the morning. If you have a project due the next day, you’re more likely to stay up later drinking caffeine, which makes it harder to get R.E.M. sleep, the state of sleep that eases your mind and helps the body rest. You then wake up feeling groggy and tired, so you drink caffeine later in the day to help keep you awake, which repeats the cycle.

According to nurse Frost, “If they drink caffeine late into the day, then they’re going to be awake at night, and then they’re not going to sleep well, and then they’re going to come in to the clinic and need, probably, a rest, at some point in time in the day, and then the cycle begins again.”

The balance between caffeine and keeping a healthy lifestyle, is watching your trade off of health for energy. The important thing to remember, is that caffeine is a mind-altering substance, and it’s important to monitor your caffeine intake, and even the balance by drinking water.