Caffeine Ban: Is It Really Helping?

        Are you like most high school students who drink coffee or energy drinks to stay awake and energized during the day? A quick cup of coffee just to give you that extra push to get things done? Now a days many high school students are turning to caffeine as a staple of their diet to make it through the long day ahead. Adults and teachers view this lifestyle as shocking because students should not rely on caffeine to get through the day; there are more bad side effects than good. Caffeine, however; is not as destructive as many people are led to believe and, in moderation, it can be very beneficial to a student's busy schedule.

        A recent study at Pasig Catholic College discovered that 72% of teens who drink coffee found an improvement in their overall behavior at home. Wilmington High School recently banned caffeinated beverages from their school, which outraged many students. This change was prompted by Michelle Obama's recent push to end childhood obesity and make for a healthier America. Michelle Obama founded many health organizations for kids including Lets Move! and MyPlate; as well as pushing to put healthier foods into public school systems. Michelle's argument for the caffeine ban was that caffeine negatively effects students and their ability to learn. This; however, is incorrect. The study at Pasig College discovered that 50% of the students actually saw an improvement in their behavior at school.

         Another argument for the ban of caffeine was that the consumption of caffeinated beverages often resulted in a lack of sleep. Most high school students who drink coffee consume one cup per day, and the majority of these students drink it in the mornings to wake themselves up. With the ban of caffeinated drinks from the school, students are not allowed to get their one cup of coffee in before or during the morning hours of school. This results in students getting coffee after school or later in the day because they may feel they were deprived of it earlier. By consuming the caffeine so much later in the day, the effects of the caffeine are more likely to be presentwhen they go to bed. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the effects of caffeine can remain in a person's system anywhere from 8 to 14 hours. If students drink the coffee in the morning hours of the day,  the effects would be worn off by around 10:00 PM. If the students are not allowed to drink it in the morning and get the coffee after school, the effects can last until much later in the day. The caffeine ban may be doing more harm than good.
        The truth is, the helpful effects of caffeine outweigh the negative. Many people focus on how caffeine can harm the body in order to combat against students drinking caffeine. There are a lot more positive long-term effects of drinking caffeine. A researcher at Harvard School of Public Health found that people who drink coffee or consume caffeine regularly have a lower chance of developing Parkinson's disease. Also, caffeine consumed in low quantities are shown to have improved physical and mental performance. Many of the destructive effects only come into play when caffeine is consumed in great amounts. StayHealthy.com states that "The recommendation for most people is to enjoy one or two cups of coffee a day, which will allow you to capitalize on its health benefits without incurring health drawbacks."  So according to this statement, caffeine, in moderation, may be doing more good than what people give credit for. The ban may be taking away the area to gain health benefits, while replacing them with the possibility of worsened sleep habits. Overall, the plan put into action to help the students may actually be doing more harm to them.  

Sources:

• http://yoursleep.aasmnet.org/topic.aspx?id=45
• http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Positive_And_Negative_Health_Effects_Of_Caffeine_a801.html
• http://www.slideshare.net/yujinli/effects-of-caffeine-to-high-school-students-of-pasig-catholic-college-sy-20112012