I just went to see the movie Pride with two of my friends.
Great movie by the way. Good action, strong female lead without it being
blatantly “Grrl Powah!” and comedic sidekicks that are actually funny. But
today’s learning experience wasn’t about the movie. It was about my unfortunate
choice of concessions.
My friend suggested that we go to 7-11 to buy snacks instead
of getting overpriced popcorn at the theatre. One cup of coffee, a bag of
skittles, and two bus rides later my stomach was very unhappy with me. Lately, coffee has been doing weird things to
my stomach, so I decided to look into some of the science behind digestion to
see why this would cause me a lot of discomfort. After all, I’m going to be
surviving on coffee when I first start my night shifts at work. I need to know
how to use it to stay awake but not be sick.
This search was relatively easy. The main culprit is chlorogenic
acid. This acid is usually found in roasted coffee beans, although it does
occur in tea as well. Having something so acidic on an empty stomach irritates
the organ’s lining. Drinking coffee too much can lead to peptic ulcers and headaches
which sounds entirely too unpleasant. I like the brew well enough, but not
enough to suffer through pain for it.
But I also found that caffeine isn’t entirely blameless. Too
much of it can cause an excess of stomach acid, which can lead to similar
cramps and pains. Drinking a cup of coffee is probably double the caffeine I’m
used to, especially since I’m drinking tea less regularly (It is late spring
after all, it’s getting hot.)
So, if I were to cut down on coffee like I should, what can
I do for an alternative for energy? I’m not sure tea would do it. Besides, I’m
too spoiled to go back to the Lipton they have in the staff room. I’m trying to
cut out soda entirely, so it wouldn’t do to drink it twice a week. There are
energy drinks, but I think I’d rather go without than deal with that
radioactive sugar sludge. All the normal go to remedies are not appealing.
But after a little searching there seems to be tons of foods
fortified with caffeine. Hard candies, chocolate gum, breath fresheners, oatmeal,
and energy waters that all give a boost of energy. There’s even ‘perky jerky’,
a dried meat stick with extra caffeine. These food/ food like products probably
also give an unhealthy dose of sugar, fat, and other chemicals, so I would hesitate
before I buy any of them. And of all
things, coffee flavored Ice cream has a lot of caffeine too. I’m actually considering
that as a valid option at this point.
Really, I think the solution doesn’t lie within over
processed foods and drinks. I just need to make sure I get enough sleep, eat well,
and have enough entertainment to get through my shift. Really the only thing I
worry about is the drive home. Perhaps a half cup of coffee, or just a glass of
water to drink in the car would fix that. Or, even better, I’m mixing myself a
Dragonforce cd to listen to in the car. If blaring speed metal can’t keep me
awake, nothing can.
