Almost everyone heard about the death of 14-year-old Anais Fournier on Dec. 23, 2011, which was caused by drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster energy drinks. Though the teenager had a preexisting heart condition that was triggered by all the caffeine in her system, two 24-ounce cans of Monster have about 240 milligrams of caffeine, which is three times as much as a can of Red Bull and seven times the amount of caffeine in a 12-ounce Coca Cola. With such high levels of caffeine, it’s no surprise that people who consume these drinks suffer from heart pains, shortness of breath and a terrible crash afterwards. But the truth is that Monster is not the only dangerous beverage out there, and a lot of teenagers just don’t know when to stop with the energy drinks.
With the stress caused by school, work, family and friends, many teens tend to look for an extra kick in order to get through the day. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and Monster are popular choices among Niles West students. Though the boost of energy might seem helpful when you’re trying to stay awake during 6th period, too much caffeine can make you anxious, irritable and extremely restless. A lot of people don’t consider caffeine as a drug, but it is an addictive stimulant that can leave you with withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and even depression.
Many beverages, most commonly coffee, can also be “decaffeinated.” However, oftentimes your “decaf” latte it isn’t completely caffeine-free. Though many view these drinks as a healthier alternative, too much of it can lead to unhealthy results.
Nasha Dovlatyan, a senior who works at a local Starbucks, is quite familiar with this phenomenon. “I see so many people from Niles West coming in and ordering super caffeinated drinks, sometimes twice a day. One latte will keep you energized for long enough, it isn’t necessary to have three cups of coffee everyday,” Dovlatyan said.
On average, caffeine stays in our systems for around seven to eight hours, so a second cup of coffee early in the day won’t do much to bolster your energy levels. As soon as the caffeine leaves our body, we crave more, and drinking caffeinated drinks in the late afternoon can have a serious effect on sleeping patterns/schedules. It’s a vicious cycle; we need caffeine to stay alert during the day, but by the time 1 a.m. comes around, we can still feel the caffeine flowing through our bloodstreams. What a lot of people don’t know is that there are many alternatives that can boost energy and keep the body and mind healthy. So unless you want to have high blood pressure and diabetes in your early thirties, use these other options that will lengthen your lifespan.
- Exercise! It’s understandable that a lot of us don’t have the time to go for a run or head to the gym, but making time will surely be worth it. Exercising reduces stress, boosts self-esteem and eliminates feelings of depression. Exercise can also strengthen your heart, lower blood pressure, and simply make you feel like a new person. Working out also releases endorphins in body that allow you to feel the same way you would by drinking a cup of coffee, giving you the kick you need to start off your day.
- Another alternative is getting more rest. Homework may interfere with your sleeping schedule, but better time management can allow a person to get a few extra hours of sleep and become less reliant on energy drinks.
- Drink a lot of water. Water is basically an all-natural energy drink that can keep you alert and get you moving. It also keeps you hydrated, whereas energy drinks can cause dehydration.
There are multiple choices that can be better for you than drinking a Monster every day. The key is managing time and making sure that the healthier substitutes are the ones being implemented and used correctly.
