Claire’s Random Thoughts

Lately, I’ve come to realize that it’s impossible to be in college and live in the dorms without sleep deprivation. There are simply too much distractions, everyone sleeps at different times, etc.

So…caffeine had never been as important to me as it is now. Before I do my homework or study, I have to have some, or I’ll be too tired to focus. Sad, isn’t it? Since it’s become a necessity due to my new college lifestyle, I’ve decided to do a little research so I know what I’m drugging myself with.

Here is an incomplete list of how much caffeine is in caffeinated drinks. God forbid I drink any of these besides many diet coke before I go out (dehydration, need water, need to get rid of water, you get the point)

Diet Coke: 3.75 mg/oz
How weak. I can’t believe just a couple months ago, this was my main source of caffeine.

Red Bull: 9.64 mg/oz
This is probably the most convenient caffeinated drink for me to buy, since it comes in smaller 8 oz cans. If I drink the whole thing, I won’t be jittery for too long. That way I can drink a single can, get my energy, and not have to worry about what to do with leftovers.

Rockstar: 10 mg/oz
The caffeine concentration for this is a bit higher than that of Red Bull, but for some reason, I don’t get as intense of an effect when I drink a regular Rockstar. Half a can of the 16 oz version should help me get my energy and might make me jittery for a short period of time. The problem comes with saving the other half for later, because I’m picky about how much carbonation is in my drink.

Monster: 10 mg/oz
In my opinion, Monster original flavor is the best tasting energy drink. Monster was the first energy drink I ever tried when I had to stay up for Relay For Life a couple years ago. The first time I had one (slowly), I felt so focused at 2:00 am that I thought Monster was the greatest drink in the world. I knew it wasn’t all that great for me, so I didn’t drink it too frequently. Half a can of this makes me a little more jittery/paranoid than half a can of Rockstar would, but Monster’s good too.

Full Throttle Zero Carb: 15 mg/oz
My goodness, I hate this drink. It’s like the 190-proof vodka of caffeine. Not only did it have a disgusting berry taste (I’m not a big fan of berries), 1/4 of this practically made me jump up and down as if I had a full Monster. Only 15 mg/oz? It certainly feels like much more. Perhaps the zero carb formula is a bit different and gives the consumer more energy. I’m avoiding this from now on.