Caffeine has become one of college students’ favorite addictions, and while it has many benefits, if students don’t reassess their consumption, it can be a problem.

Statistically, most college students consume nearly double the recommended caffeine content in a day. According to the FDA, the recommended consumption is 400 milligrams of caffeine, the equivalent of four cups of coffee or two energy drinks.

Many college students consume caffeine in an attempt to cram for an exam, stay up late studying for a particularly difficult class or even make it to their 8 a.m. class half-awake. However, the excess consumption of caffeine is actually related to lower academic performance, according to studies done by the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Caffeine dependence leads to decreased sleep hours, which has a direct link to lower academic performance. Excessive consumption of caffeine also worsens anxiety, which is already at a heightened risk for college students due to stressors such as school, work and social relationships. Not only does it increase anxiety, but a study done by the National Library of Medicine revealed that excessive intake is associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms.

All of this is not to say that caffeine is inherently bad. Instead, students need to moderate their consumption. In moderation, the benefits of caffeine simply cannot be denied. Caffeine consumption can improve alertness, enhance concentration and increase your mood.

The important thing to take away is that students should adapt to healthier ways of drinking caffeine, like drinking in moderation instead of stopping drinking caffeine altogether. Students can still appreciate the helpful benefits without developing a dependence that leads to both mental and physical health problems.

Lauren Douda is a freshman secondary education and English major from Lexington, South Carolina. Lauren can be reached at [email protected].