Students have to finish their homework on time and study before tests. They are up late at night. They are tired, but they can’t go to bed right now. What do they do now? They grab energy drinks.
Studies have shown that about 60% of teenagers drink energy drinks, beverages for purpose of providing a feeling of extra energy. Because there had been some major negative health effects caused by teens’ too many consumption of energy drinks, many parents and teachers have become concerned with the amount of consumption.
Energy drinks usually contain five to six different ingredients; caffeine, taurine, guarana, ginseng, B vitamins and L-carnitine. Caffeine, the most commonly used ingredient on Energy drinks, helps improve mental and physical performances. Teens usually consume caffeine in order to stay late up at night or play sports. In moderation, Caffeine is safe. However, too much consumption can cause caffeine addiction, which leads to high fever and headache. So the bottom line is: as long as teenagers don’t over consume caffeine and don’t consume energy drinks more than once per day, it’s safe.
And of course. Drinking more than 5 cups of coffee has numerous negative effects to human body. First of all, if people consume too much caffeine, they will have not be able to sleep at night because again, caffeine prevents you from sleeping. Moreover, too much caffeine can lead to high fever, irregular heartbeat, and even vomiting.
Brian Kim, a sophomore at Van Nuys high school, believes students consume caffeine if necessary. “We are high school students,” says Brian, “which means that we should complete our assignments on time and study before major tests. We are not middle school students anymore. Sometimes we don’t have enough time to complete these tasks, so we need to consume caffeine in order for us to study till late night.”
Andrew Okeh, a junior at North Hollywood high school, is one of those who share these feelings. “I drink a cup of coffee every day not only because I need to stay all night studying for tests but also because I gain physical strength and confidence before playing basketball game. After the game, I don’t feel tired, and then I can finish my assignments. For most of students who don’t have any caffeine allergies, consuming caffeine gives them a physical and mental energy. So I recommend drinking coffees or energy drinks once in a while if you feel tired.”
