Caffeine is present in many beverages and foods such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolate. Caffeine is best known for its "wake-up" effect. Once a person consumes caffeine, it is quickly absorbed by the body and carried around in the bloodstream. Many students in high school drink or eat some kind of caffeine to keep them moving throughout the day.

           Some students have grown so accustomed to consuming a serving of coffee or soda in the morning that they do not even consider the damaging effects caffeine has on the body. On the contrary, most people will tell others that they need their caffeine to get them moving in the morning or to keep them upright throughout the day.

            Caffeine can be mildly addictive. Even when a person does not consume caffeine for 18 to 24 hours, one may feel withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, become easily annoyed, depressed or develop poor concentration.

            “I think that caffeine gives people energy throughout the day. But I have to say there has been some occasions where caffeine has actually made me tired and drowsy,” says Junior Shaketa Harris.

            Too much caffeine or even a serving as low as one or two cups of coffee a day, can affect the body. It can cause anxiety, restlessness, confusion, dehydration, faster breathing rate, fast heartbeat and can also cause muscles to tremble or twitch. Exactly how caffeine will affect an individual and for how long, depends on many factors, including the amount of caffeine ingested, whether one is male or female, one's height and weight and one's age.

            “Yes, I do believe it is bad for the body, but mostly because people tell me that it is bad for you.” Harris says, “I remember a dentist on television once was saying how badly caffeine can decay your teeth and that was enough information for me to slow down on the caffeine.”

            The most noticeable negative effect of caffeine is the fact that it interferes with sleep. The quantity and quality of sleep will be greatly reduced, where the person affected will feel so tired all the next day that he drinks even more coffee or soda in order to feel awake.

            For many people it is a challenge to stop drinking caffeine. However, caffeine may also have some good symptoms. Caffeine is best ingested before exercise because that way ones performance is enhanced and the stress-management benefits of exercise can keep them healthy and feeling less stressed throughout the day.

            “I am trying to cut down on caffeine, so I try to take it only when I am going to exercise since is gives me the boost to move more” says, Mehr Sher-Khan, sophomore.

            Some people like drinking caffeine because it helps them lose weight. It speeds up the metabolism and it can help the body break down fat about 30% more efficiently if consumed prior to exercise.

            Sher-Khan says, “I like to drink caffeine because it helps me become more active and aware during the day, but I also drink because it doesn’t make me hungry and can help lose weight.”

It has been agreed that the safe amount of caffeine that can be consumed in a day is 300 mg. This is equivalent to about 3-4 cups of regular coffee. Some teens do try to keep their limits on caffeine, but it is not easy.

“I drink soda once a week, but when it comes to coffee and tea, I have to drink either one everyday,” says Sher-Khan.