Caffeine consumption continues to be controversial

Caffeine. You may drink it every morning in order to get that pep in your step. If you don’t, you probably know someone who does.

Caffeine has become as much of a staple in the diet of society as water and bread. Every town seems to have a Starbucks, Dunkin’ or the equivalent. With new seasons come new drinks, and with current technology it’s easier than ever to get a quick fix at home.

Even though it’s easy to get your hands on a source of caffeine, it’s not the healthiest thing to put in your body. The teenage years are when most people turn to caffeine, whether it be to perk them up in the morning or help them pull an all-nighter the night before that important test worth 70% of your grade.

It’s one thing to turn to coffee, tea, soda or the like once in a while-it’s another to rely on it to keep you going. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and school nurse Kelly Smith say teens should have no more than 100 mg of caffeine in a day.

A 12 ounce can of Coke has 34 mg, and a 12 ounce can of Diet Coke has 46 mg. A small pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks has 75 mg. One 16 ounce can of Monster contains 160 mg. A small iced coffee from Dunkin’? About 198 mg.

Teens can easily reach the recommended max caffeine intake in just one small drink. But how much caffeine do teens really intake on a daily basis?

A recent survey of AHS students reports about 70 percent of students would not say they are addicted to caffeine. In fact, 48.1% of the 83 students surveyed only have one cup of their preferred caffeinated beverage each day.

Coffee (hot and iced) seems to be Aurora High’s preferred source of caffeine, with 78.4% of students reporting they have it on a daily basis. Tea came in second at 35.1%, followed by soda (27%), and energy drinks (13.5%).

But why do teens feel they need that caffeine fix in the first place?

Some agree with Junior Elizabeth Miller, who says, “I genuinely believe some people force themselves to drink coffee because they think it makes them look cooler. I don’t know too many people who have tried coffee for the first time and thought it was amazing.”

Others feel their bodies have gotten to the point where they truly need caffeine to function.

Senior Aaron Giganti explains, “I think it's crazy that we all drink something on a daily basis that makes you experience physical withdrawal symptoms when you don't drink it.”

Many students use caffeine to help them stay on top of their studies. “Maybe if we didn’t have so much homework, we could sleep instead of take caffeine,” said Sophomore Sarah Robb.

Some are opposed to consuming high amounts of caffeine.

“Teens are too young! It’s bad for your heart,” said Freshman Lydia Schiopota.

There are many dangers to consuming too much caffeine. According to Smith, caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches and stomachaches. In addition, too much caffeine is bad for your stomach, teeth, and heart.

There are plenty of alternatives to caffeine in case you need a pick me up. Smith said exercise is a great way to boost your energy. Water is also a good alternative, as you can always add lemons, cucumbers, or berries to enhance the flavor.

“It will not give that jolt of energy, but you will also not get that sleepy feeling after the caffeine wears off.”

In the words of Sophomore Benson Aardema, “It is an individual’s choice on the amount of caffeine they consume.”

At some point in time, everyone is tempted to have a little caffeine in order to pick up their energy levels. It is important to keep in mind what health experts say, but at the end of the day it’s up to you to decide how much caffeine is too much.