It’s 7:30 a.m., the early morning rush has kicked in and your day would not begin on a friendly note if you did not have a hot cup of joe or latte in your hand. So you hurry to the nearest cafĂ© on campus.  To no one’s surprise, the line is long-so long that it resembles the line of crazy fans winding outside the movie theater just before the latest Twilight Saga movie premier. While you’re waiting in line your senses are tingling because of all the delightful coffee aromas surrounding you.
Once you finally have that delicious and warm caffeinated drink in your possession, you begin to think that you’re going to undoubtedly be more productive now. You very well may be, until that mid-afternoon crash begins to creep in and all the energy you had at first is slowly diminishing into a mere memory. Â
For a bit of background, coffee beans are seed plants produced from red or purple berries. The main reason many experience this dreadful crash is because of the high levels of caffeine that coffee contains. This occurs when the four adenosine receptors in the human brain collide and make you drowsy. When caffeine from any food or beverage comes into the mix, the collision between the two adenosine receptors will not occur. One receptor will collide with caffeine. Immediately, the human pituitary glands will act as if there is an emergency and kick in, which is when you feel the initial rush, resulting in a caffeine high.
Dehydration occurs because caffeine takes the water from our bodies. This causes the tired and lethargic feelings. Many professionals even advise that an individual should drink two to three cups of water after a caffeinated drink.
Keep in mind that one to two cups of coffee per day, or 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine, is not bad and is even considered beneficial to certain aspects of your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, once an individual’s caffeine level exceeds over 500 to 600 milligrams the aftermath will include headaches, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, nausea and muscle tension or tremors. For some people this can even begin after the first sip of coffee.
Students need to be aware that caffeine from coffee is not the only stimulant; there are plenty of other caffeinated beverages or foods that can result in the same crash. Plenty of exercise, sleep, and healthy dieting will contribute to a healthy and productive academic year. Remember that caffeine is just a stimulant and it is not always the best answer to long days or long study sessions at night-even during finals week.