Caffeinated or Hydrated?

Comparing water and caffeine water. Image by Piper Lipon.

You wake up, exhausted, and the clock already reads seven. Bad idea to stay up until 3 o’clock last night, right? You get dressed, brush your teeth, skip breakfast because who has time for that, and right before you leave you reach for the energy drink sitting in the fridge, it’s just staring at you, practically glowing like the nectar of gods. You make it to school, energy drink already chugged on the way and a sugary Starbucks drink in hand that you somehow had time to pick up before class starts. After the initial rush of energy, you feel increasingly tired throughout the day without a consistent influx of caffeine into your system and pretty soon you ask yourself: why is this happening? I thought caffeine was supposed to help my energy, not deplete it!

According to a 2016 paper from the National Library of Medicine caffeine blocks Adenosine receptors in the brain from causing drowsiness as it builds up in the body throughout the day. After the caffeine wears off, all of that build up is released in a very short period of time which dramatically increases fatigue and drowsiness. The body then adapts to the blockage made by the caffeine, producing more and more adenosine, thus causing the dependence on caffeine to stay awake.

The effects of caffeine dependency have obvious adverse effects on students and their learning. Without constant caffeine intake with students who depend on it for energy, attention and alertness during class dwindles as fatigue begins to take over which can lead to missing important learning and a slip in grades.

“Caffeine helps me go about my day and focus on my schoolwork and just daily aspects, but I've built such a reliance on caffeine that I found that without it I'm unable to go about my day and perform my tasks as normal without feeling foggy, tired, and unfocused. my mood and energy levels when I've had less caffeine are both usually lower and I find that caffeine makes me feel better both mentally, and physically,” said junior Emma Darko.

On the other hand, water is often an overlooked drink in today’s youth. Especially in the morning, water can do wonders for energy, hydration, mental clarity and skin health. So many students are dehydrated and wonder why they feel so drained even after consuming caffeine, because apart from the buildup of adenosine, caffeine is a huge factor in dehydration which also contributes to lack of energy and focus.

“I drink water in the morning to wake up; it is super refreshing and isn’t acidic like coffee so it balances the stomach and is better for your teeth in the morning. Hydration is also super important as it helps me stay focused, so if I ever do drink caffeine I have water with it as well, so I stay alert and hydrated at school,” said junior Sophia Kampton.

Caffeine is a great way to get quick energy at the start of one’s day, but it is important to take into consideration the long-term effects of unmoderated consumption. Drinking caffeine in moderation along with other liquids to stay hydrated and balanced such as water gives the best chance in still being able to enjoy the energy that caffeinated drinks give with less unwanted side effects.