When the weary hand of a college student reaches for a morning dose of caffeine, what does it usually grab? As tired eyes wake up to darker mornings, it might be a good idea to start reaching for a healthier caffeine option besides energy drinks or coffee.
Caffeine seems to be a necessary fix for many people. This generation has even branched out and created a more intense form of drive to get out of bed: the energy drink. Unfortunately, energy drinks are the least healthy beverage to consume when trying to boost up energy levels.
The Boston Globe posted an article in 2007 titled, "Are energy drinks bad for you?" Psychopharmacologist Roland Griffiths, caffeine expert and a professor in the department of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, said in the article that although caffeine has no life threatening risks, too much does cause health issues such as insomnia, stomach problems and panic attacks.
Analytical toxicologist Bruce A. Goldberger, director of toxicology at the University of Florida College of Medicine, also found that on top of all of the sugar, energy drinks have more caffeine than the FDA regulated amount for soda and almost three times as much caffeine as coffee.
Coffee is definitely a better option than energy drinks, but Griffiths pointed out, "We should not mistake coffee or caffeine as a health food."
The article, "Coffee vs. Tea: The Health Benefits Compared," from Lifestyle by Richard Darell said coffee has over 1,000 chemicals in it with 19 being known carcinogens. Coffee can also raise cholesterol. Again, there are no life threatening properties, but coffee is not great for the body either. Tea is the third option for that caffeine fix.
Darell found that tea, especially green tea, has more health properties while coffee has no health benefits to it. In a 2006 ABC article from "Good Morning America" - "What's better for you: coffee or tea?" - medical contributor David Katz picked home brewed tea as the best caffeine option, even though he identified himself as a coffee drinker. Katz determined that tea is definitely healthier for you, but that does not mean that coffee is terrible for you either.
Stephanie Damrell, the general manager at Teavana in the Fashion Mall, said all teas are good for something. White tea gives the body antioxidants. Green tea helps the immune system. Oolong teas, which have the most caffeine out of the four, are good for digestion. Black teas benefit the cardiovascular system and give the body more energy.
What might oppose a college student from switching to tea is the preferred taste of energy drinks or coffee. However, there are many delicious flavors of tea and items you can mix into tea to create a more flavorsome taste like specialty coffees.
Damrell's favorite mix is Mat+â-¬ Vana energy tea with Teavana's German rock sugar to brighten up the chocolatey flavor. Teavana will have 17 new flavors coming out for the Fall Season today, as well.
Many Ball State students enjoy the healthier yet tasty benefits of tea.
Myra Kaminski, a senior international business major, said chai tea with sugar, a big teaspoon of honey, and vanilla almond milk for the creamer is the best fall drink.
Charlie Evans, a junior secondary English education major, said he is a fan of Jasmine teas, teas with lemongrass, green tea with mint and strong English teas. Evans takes these herbal teas plain, which is probably recommended more for regular tea drinkers.
For people who prefer cold drinks, junior photography major Alea Bowling said she likes her green tea iced with honey or sweet raspberry tea left to steep in the sun for a delicious summer tea.
Other teas that students suggested via Facebook include earl grey and Tazo Passion Tea with ginger ale.
Tea might have slightly less caffeine than coffee, but it can never hurt to crave and consume less caffeine. Tea matches up in the taste department and is a healthier choice to start off the cold mornings.
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