Are you on the grind?
by Nick Spector
Click image to enlarge.
It is the second most traded commodity in the world, surpassed only by crude oil. According to a study in 2004 by CTV, almost two-thirds of Canadians consume it, and on average Canadians are consuming
4.5 cups of it a day. I have worked at my family’s business
which specializes in it since the age of about eight. Cola? Chocolate? Beer? Nope, it’s coffee,
and almost 63% of Jarvis students who took part in a recent survey are drinking it.
So why are so many of us drinking it? How much are we drinking? Where are we getting
our boost from, and what effects is all this coffee having on our bodies?
“I usually drink Starbucks every other day. I tend to order the white chocolate
mocca,” said Ann Chiem, a Grade 12 Jarvisite. “I wouldn't say that I'm addicted to coffee, but here and there I have a craving
for some Starbucks. It's so expensive; I swear they jacked up their prices.” Ann spends, on average, $15 per week at Starbucks.
Caitlyn Ngu, another Grade 12 student, is also an admitted Starbucks lover. She makes trips almost every day to Starbucks, sometimes more than once, spending on average $40 per week on everything from chai lattes, to tea, to espresso.
Without her caffeine fix Caitlyn says, “I feel like crap; I can’t focus; I’m pretty much useless. I don’t have that rush.” Caitlyn also admits to being dependent on coffee and other caffeinated
drinks. “It gives me energy and makes me happy… Even with a decent night’s sleep, I still need caffeine.” At the time of the interview, Caitlyn admitted to having only slept 6 hours during the last 40, and had consumed 10 different, highly caffeinated beverages.
Despite all their praise of the franchise, Ann and Caitlyn are actually part of a small percentage of surveyed Jarvis students who say they drink at Starbucks, only 13% to be exact. Twenty-five percent of students surveyed admitted
to meeting their coffee needs at the fast-growing Tim Horton’s and 27% at independent coffee houses around Toronto.
So why are so many Jarvis students
drinking coffee? The most obvious answer would seem to be for its caffeine. However, Ann and Caitlyn are part of a minority of Jarvisites who rely on coffee for energy.
Only 13% of Jarvis students said they relied on coffee for energy. It may be that most Jarvis students simply enjoy the taste of coffee.
That being said, what effects is all this coffee having? Many Jarvis students seem to feel that the effects are negative.
According to the survey, the most commonly perceived negative side-effect of coffee is that it is addictive. But that is not entirely true. While the caffeine in coffee is a drug, drinking coffee will only become an addiction if one drinks excessive amounts and relies on coffee for energy. A few cups a day, in moderation and with consistent water consumption, can actually be beneficial. Why the water? Caffeine dehydrates, dehydration leads to fatigue, fatigue leads to the need for more coffee, and thus the vicious cycle begins.
The next most commonly perceived
known side effect listed by those surveyed was that coffee consumption stunts growth. This is true; the Loch Ness Monster would have been bigger if it weren’t for coffee. Bigfoot would have been known as Giantfoot if it wasn’t for that damn Starbucks. Not! It’s a MYTH. No scientific study has been able to prove that coffee consumption does in fact stunt growth. Maybe you’re just naturally short and happen to be a coffee drinker.
In addition to these misconceptions
about coffee’s health effects, 86% of surveyed students felt that there were more or equal risks associated with drinking coffee as there were benefits.
Coffee actually has many benefits,
and many of the alleged risks associated with drinking coffee have not been proven. However, if people drink excessive amounts, they will feel jittery, hyper, and may be susceptible to mood swings.
Coffee consumption has also been linked to many cardiovascular problems. While the problems associated with coffee consumption have not been proven, coffee has been known to actually reduce the chances of developing heart disease. It is unknown whether a compound within coffee or its stimulant nature helps clear lipids from the bloodstream.
A better known fact about coffee’s
benefits is its anti-diabetic qualities. Regular coffee consumption may reduce the chances of developing type-2 diabetes
by roughly 50%, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Cirrhosis, a liver disease that, in 2000, was a leading cause of death in North America, is said to be greatly preventable through the consumption of coffee. Studies conducted on 90,000 people in Japan by the National Cancer Center in Tokyo showed that just one cup per day reduced the risk of developing
this cancer-causing disease by 20%. The study also showed that those who consumed 4 cups a day (the average in Canada) reduced the risk by 80%.
As one Jarvisite mentioned in his survey, coffee has been known to be an aphrodisiac. This, however, is a trait shared by all stimulant drugs, and therefore
all caffeinated beverages.
With all that being said, don’t go out and start buying four white chocolate mocca Frappuccinos a day in hopes of lowering your chances of getting cirrhosis
or cutting your chances of getting diabetes. Not only will it cost you a fortune, but specialty drinks of that type average about 400 calories per 16 oz. cup, according to the nutritional information provided on Starbucks’ website. Coupled with the fact that specialty drinks of that type average almost 60 grams of sugar, it’s anything but a healthy drink.
If you’re confused, think of it as eating 5-10 servings of French fries a day and counting it as your daily fruits and vegetables. When I say coffee, I mean typical everyday milk-and-sugar coffee; steer clear of the specialty drinks.
So can coffee actually be considered
good for you? Well, contrary to the popular belief, it certainly isn’t bad for you. It does have its benefits. And if you aren’t drinking it because you think it’s unhealthy, perhaps it’s time you start; you might end up doing your body some good.
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