A medium peppermint mocha at Bookends Caf‚ with breakfast; a 20-ounce soda with lunch; an afternoon snack of a chocolate bar and another soda; and more soda with dinner and while studying late into the night.

As college life is typically busy, students find themselves regenerating their bodies with quick and easy foods and drinks.

However, there are a few things students should know about the amount of caffeine they are consuming.

Caffeine is a natural substance found in a variety of plants. Although caffeine is considered a stimulant and speeds up the heart rate, its effects on a person can vary, said Judy Trumpy, registered dietitian for Thielen Student Health Center.

Trumpy added that everyone reacts differently to caffeine. Some people may have no reactions while others may become jittery or hyperactive. Some people may also experience insomnia or nervousness, Trumpy said.

Dan Aderton, freshman in pre-business and an employee at Bookends Caf‚, said he used to drink a lot of coffee.

Aderton prefers the peppermint mocha with an extra shot of espresso. A standard peppermint mocha is made with two shots of espresso.

“I had six shots of espresso within an hour or an hour and a half and my heart was racing,” Aderton said.

Aderton has now cut back on his coffee intake to only one peppermint mocha per day.

According to the International Food Information Council, the effects of caffeine are defined by several factors including frequency, amount of regular intake, body weight and physical condition.

The IFIC reports that studies have shown moderate caffeine intake does not increase the likelihood of several health-related issues such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and breast diseases.

Studies also state that approximately 300 milligrams of caffeine per day is a moderate and safe amount for most adults, according to the IFIC.

The caramel macchiato and the mocha are the two biggest sellers at Bookends Caf‚, Aderton said; both contain two shots of espresso.

Two shots of espresso contain about 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is almost one third of the daily moderate caffeine intake recommended by the IFIC.

Trumpy said students should read labels to obtain caffeine amounts and suggests coupling any caffeine intake with an equal amount of water.