Little Miss Tea Enthusiast
Author: Henley Woods
What is a Loaded Tea?
Have you ever walked in the classroom to see a student with a big colorful drink on their desk, maybe with words written on the side such as “Ruby Slipper” or “Fun Dip?” It just might be a loaded tea. First of all, what is a loaded tea? A loaded tea is a beverage with a range of health benefits from performance enhancement and mental clarity, to a metabolism boost and hunger suppression. Students are seen dragging themselves to class carrying one of these in hand daily, but these teas are not just a “healthy” drink. To give you context, a cup of coffee consists of 60mg of caffeine, these teas contain 200 milligrams, which is enough to make your skin crawl.
Opinions From an Expert
One article by The Today Show, explains the health risks of these colorful drinks. Despite the potential benefits of having more energy and consuming more vitamins, nutritionists spoke with caution when it comes to loaded teas. “The biggest beef that I have with these drinks is all the stimulants. They’re just an overdrive for your cardiovascular system. Your heart rate increases, your blood pressure increases, it can even negatively impact your mood,” Johnson stated. “Teens are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of large doses of caffeine,” she continued. In other words, all of those stimulants can, over time, actually result in the very issues people turn to loaded teas to fix. “My advice would be to drink eight ounces of water beforehand, to prepare your body for the intense caffeine intake.”
Students’ Take on Loaded Teas
Students may get one in the morning, just to make it through the day after a sleepless night. Teenagers are their target audience and probably aren’t going anywhere soon. Despite the warnings, loaded teas aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, as long as there are tests to study for and classes to endure, caffeine will remain a necessity. We interviewed one of our students about these teas, and it seems like an energy boost is the main purpose of the tea, and possibly a hint of bandwagon popularity.
FAQs with a Lamar student who wishes to remain anonymous:
How often do you buy loaded teas?
Probably around twice a week
Do you ever feel a crash after drinking one of these?
Yes, some days when I drink a tea in the beginning of the day, towards the end I’m more tired than I would be had.
How expensive are the teas, and how much do you spend on them?
These teas range from 7 to 8 dollars. Having two a week I probably spend $50 dollars on them monthly.
Why do you drink loaded teas?
Teas give me the energy I need for the long day of school.
Sophomores Annie Martin and Caroline Fruge’ pose with their loaded teas.