Thank you to those of you who voted for this topic on Instagram! I really wanted to write about something adult-related, but was having a hard time figuring out whether I wanted it to be purely about being an adult or about health. In order to combine the two, let's break down the body's relationship with one of the major substances adults ingest on a regular basis: caffeine. I love my two cups of coffee in the morning. However, there are definitely those times when I need another one or two extra caffeine kicks during the day. When it comes down to it, caffeine in some form, whether that's an energy drink, coffee, or tea, and alcohol are probably the two most prominent beverages for a college student. (If you're in Arizona or any other desert climate, I'm begging you right now to make water your #1.)
COFFEE Sometimes, my morning caffeine is enough. However, my home-brewed cup isn't usually as strong as the $3-5 cup or $2 espresso shot you can get at the coffee shop down the street. When it comes down to it, us college students and adults will often try to get as much caffeine in our system as possible in order to make it through the day. However, having a little too much caffeine can do a number on our bodies. A lot of people take pre-workout supplements before going to the gym, or caffeinate beforehand. Essentially, this gives you an energy boost before your workout, and people often claim that it makes their workout better. I'm not one to endorse the use of supplements unless you need them for medical reasons. I've tried them, wasted my money, and had zero results. Caffeine has a similar effect to the pre-workout supplements: it gives you a quick energy boost. However, coffee is dehydrating, so you run the risk of not taking in enough water, and putting a product in your body that gives you an energy boost can be nice--unless you end up over-doing it. The most recent episode of being over-stimulated because of caffeine that I've seen involved an incredibly fast resting heart rate, being short of breath, nauseous, and anxious--definitely not something that fuels a workout. Personally, when I have a little too much caffeine in my system, I get incredibly irritable, anxious, and nauseous. This affects my day immensely, and I can't function normally--which means I miss my workout, sometimes class, and get angry with my always kind-and-loving fiancé. The FDA recommends less than 400mg of caffeine a day as a safe amount. Your average cup of coffee is approximately 80-100mg, an energy drink is 40-250mg, and black tea is 30-50mg. When it comes to your alternative coffees, there are about 64mg of caffeine in a shot of espresso, and about 200mg (or more) in a cold brew. PERSONAL ENDEAVORS I've had many times where I've either totally or slightly weaned myself off of caffeine. Over the last couple of weeks, I've reduced my coffee intake from two cups in the morning and one in the afternoon to just one in the morning. I started doing so because I wanted to support Dylan on his mission to reduce how much caffeine he has. It's been a struggle to adjust, but it's something that I can honestly say I've adjusted to pretty well. Instead of caffeinating in the middle of the day, I'll either go do a workout or take a nap in order to energize myself for the rest of the day. I hope this helped explain caffeine and the body a little bit more. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave it down below! Have a great week! ~E
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AuthorElena B. Archives
June 2020
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