Photo courtesy of Hone Health, edited by Sarah C. ‘24.
At the Bryn Mawr School, the sweet refresh of a Celsius is what many students reach for to quench their thirst and temporarily erase the effects of inadequate sleep. Especially during first period, in each classroom, a cup of coffee most likely sits on at least one student’s desk. What about the Bryn Mawr student experience feeds this constant need for caffeine? And how does it affect adolescent minds in an environment where they are required to perform well in academics, athletics, and more?
The prevalence of caffeine at Bryn Mawr can be attributed to many of the elements of daily student life. Academic rigor, intense athleticism, and dedication, common experiences in much of the student body, delay the end of the day. In combination with an early wake-up to make it to school by 8:00 am, these factors limit the amount of sleep physically possible. And as a quick and easy solution, picking up a Celsius at the Brynmawrket might be the best option to get through the school day. But using caffeine as the sole solution to lack of sleep and general tiredness creates reliance. And the Brynmawrket knows this—the more students dependent on a daily Celsius, the more sales. So why stop something that creates so much profit?
The more subtle effects of caffeine on teenagers, particularly when it is used as a remedy for low sleep, are crucial to understand why this issue is so urgent. Not every case is an immediate horror story: heart attacks, huge spikes in anxiety, et cetera, but rather, a slow decrease in health. Many individuals deep into habitual caffeine consumption experience numerous adverse effects, such as headaches, sluggishness, or difficulty concentrating when going a day coffee free. The established maximum level of caffeine for adolescents considered healthy is approximately 175 milligrams per day. To put that into perspective of the average caffeinated drink: one Celsius contains 200 milligrams per can, a Grande Starbucks latte contains 150 milligrams of caffeine, and a Red Bull contains 80 milligrams per serving. Though serving sizes vary, Celsius delivers by far the most caffeine per ounce, compared to the other drinks popular to Upper School students. By consuming over the recommended maximum, one puts themself at risk for cardiovascular complications, nervousness, difficulty in future sleep, as well as stomach irritation, and bone health issues.
After hearing the dangers of excessive caffeine intake, and the reasoning as to why many consume caffeinated beverages, one question remains: what is the solution? Maybe it is a call to action for the Brynmawrket to reconsider stocking Celsius. Maybe, the best solution is to address the root of the caffeine prevalence: a lack of sleep among students. But truly, the first step for any student who regularly consumes caffeine is to understand what they are really putting into their bodies every day, and how it could be negatively affecting them.
Links:
https://www.celsius.com/essential-facts/
https://www.redbull.com/us-en/energydrink/red-bull-energy-drink-ingredients-list \