Lola Sekon
Contributing Writer
What is the best drink for studying? Ahh, the question for the ages.
We live in a time where there are countless beverage options for students looking for a quick pick-me-up before a long session of hitting the books. When you walk into the Arbor, you are greeted by what feels like an ocean of choices. Everything from kombucha to canned coffee to flavored Red Bulls — it is almost impossible to choose from the plethora of options.
This question of the best drink for studying has been on my mind for a while now. To find the answer, I consulted exercise and sport studies professor Amy Jamieson, who teaches a class covering the fundamentals of nutrition. According to Jamieson, water is always the best option, since it promotes the most optimal cellular function and ensures proper hydration. She then went on to explain how energy drinks are filled with numerous chemicals, sugar, and caffeine. After the initial boost, they are not the best source of energy for studying, because they result in crashes. Apologies to all the Red Bull enthusiasts out there.
This was not surprising to hear, since most healthcare professionals will give you similar answers. And while I don’t disagree that water is usually the best choice, water, for all its strengths, simply cannot compete against the magical effects of caffeine. It simply doesn’t give you the punch you need when you have an exam looming.
So, what is the verdict? What is the best drink for studying? I’m sorry to disappoint all the Monster lovers out there but the answer isn’t energy drinks. After countless searches across the web for the best ones, I’ve nailed it down to three choices. I consider them to be the Holy Trinity of study drinks: water, tea (green or black), and coffee.
Each of these drinks is known to be effective since they are proven to have ingredients that help to keep you alert and enhance energy levels without the brutal sugar crash of a Tropical-Vibe-flavored Celsius. But beyond the cognitive aspect of improving your brain chemistry, I believe that having a caffeinated beverage next to you as you study also helps you psychologically. In the same way that music and working in a cozy space does, having a fun bev acts as a motivator to help you study.
When it comes to studying, my drink of choice is, without question, coffee — specifically, a latte (and for even more specificity, I’m loyal to Cajé). When I sit down to study, I need a latte within arm’s reach. It’s my emotional support drink, if you will. Coffee has been my savior in many academic crises. There have been many times where I have been chugging my coffee faster than a frat guy downs a shot of Fireball. I must obtain the sweet effects of caffeine coursing through my veins as I sit hunched over my desk cramming endless information into my brain.
At the end of the day, whichever drink gets you through those grueling study sessions, I see you, and I support you. But just know that you will never catch me downing a Rockstar; find me in the corner chugging a latte while I study for my upcoming philosophy midterm.