It seems as if caffeine has become an essential part of college life. With late nights filled to the brim with studying for tests, causing irregular sleep patterns, why wouldn't any self-respecting student reach for a strong cup of coffee or an energizing soft drink? Now it's easier than ever to think of caffeine as an essential part of life - it's everywhere! On campus alone, there are dozens of vending machines, cafés and convenience stores offering all sorts of caffeinated drinks. Even the water vending machines have bottles of Rockstar and Pepsi hidden inside their mechanized bellies.

What does it do that gets us so amped up? Should we really be filling our bodies with gallons of caramel macchiato and Mountain Dew?

Colleen Kvaska, a registered dietitian and nutrition instructor, said that "(caffeine) causes increased neural activity and an increase in adrenaline, (which) increases heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar. It also dilates pupils and opens airways."

Although caffeine can cause a rise in blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, dizziness and heartburn, Kvaska said that moderate caffeine intake can actually help students in a college environment.

"Since college students typically don’t get enough sleep, the benefits of caffeine may outweigh the risks if it is used in moderation,” Kvaska said. “(Caffeine) may help students concentrate while sitting in class or think more clearly when doing homework if they are sleep deprived”."

Kvaska warns, however, that there is a definite risk of addiction when a student becomes dependent on caffeine to get them through the day.

"Caffeine is considered a drug, and withdrawal symptoms may produce severe headaches,” said Kvaska.

English graduate student, Coralyn Foults, 22, is no stranger to caffeine addiction. A fan of the black coffee at popular campus café Aloha Java, Foults said, "Oh, yes I am addicted. If I don’t have any by at least 1 p.m., then I have a headache and become lethargic."

Her admitted addiction didn't seem to trouble her, and she mentioned that she didn't think the vast number of locations to find caffeine on campus was necessarily a bad thing.

"Everything is fine in moderation. Also, the campus is very large and having so many places to get coffee is convenient," said Foults.

Megan Ozima, 28, an English graduate student, was also unconvinced that it is the university's responsibility to restrict the availability of caffeine. "They should not be mandating students' nutrition options. If a student wishes to drink coffee they should be able too. As an adult it is your job to make choices for yourself, and those choices can be either positive or negative," Ozima said.

Ozima also admitted to being guilty of addiction, mainly to black coffee. "My body is addicted to caffeine! I get headaches when I go without my morning coffee, but after the headaches are gone, I don’t need or crave coffee," Ozima said.

She mentioned, however, that her addiction is conditional. "Over breaks off from the university, my caffeine intake goes way down because my sleep schedule is better - more sleep equals less caffeine needed," said Ozima.

According to Kvaska, a "moderate" amount of caffeine for daily consumption is around 300 mg or less (about three eight-ounce cups of coffee).

Kvaska's advised that addicted students hoping to kick their caffeine addiction “to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms one should gradually decrease their intake (by mixing) decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee. Herbal teas are caffeine free, so those would also be a good choice for someone who wants a caffeine free beverage, and they contain healthy antioxidants and phytochemicals.”

Kvaska concluded that "students should focus on getting enough sleep then they won’t need the caffeine to wake them up."