Guarana (pronounced gwa-ra-naa) is a berry that grows in Venezuela and the northern parts of Brazil in the Amazon rain forest. The fruit are small, bright-red, and contains black seeds. Guarana contains very high concentrations of caffeine and has been used as a stimulant and appetite suppressant. The name 'Guarana' comes from the Guarani tribe that lives in Brazil. Guarana plays a very important role in their culture, as this herb is believed to be a cure for bowel complaints and a way to regain strength.
The taste of Guarana is distinctive and unique, and the main reason for its success in Brazil as a soft drink. The main ingredient of guarana is guaranine, which is chemically identical to caffeine. Guarana seeds contain up to 4-8% caffeine, more than coffee beans, which contain approximately 1–2.5% caffeine. This is the reason for the energy boost people get after taking guarana. The seeds are also rich in tannins and xanthine alkaloids theophylline and theobromine.
Guarana is reputed to be a stimulant and increase mental alertness, fight fatigue, and increase stamina and physical endurance.
Guarana drinks and sodas are very popular in Brazil (where guarana is considered to be a health tonic), almost as popular as cola-based sodas, but hard to find in most other countries. Sweet, carbonated guarana drinks include the popular brands Guaraná Antarctica, Guaraná Brahma, and Kuat (from Coca-Cola Company).
In North America, guarana has recently become a popular ingredient in energy drinks and teas.
Guarana is one of the richest sources of caffeine, containing up to three times the amount of caffeine as coffee. Unlike coffee, the amount of caffeine doesn't have to be listed on guarana drinks.
In addition to its stimulant properties, guarana is also a popular ingredient in herbal weight loss pills. Some evidence indicates that guarana may suppress appetite and increase fat-burning.
The success in Brazil was reason enough for the Pepsi and Coca Cola to start the production of their own guarana soda varieties. Pepsi tried to market 'Josta' in the US (and failed); Coca Cola still sells 'Kuat' in Brazil (with some success). In most cases, imitation brands still can't compete with the original Brazilian brands - the genuine flavor of guarana is sometimes absent and apparently replaced by an overdose of sugar. Quite a few guarana-lovers (mainly Brazilians, and you can take our word for it that they are experts in the field) even doubt if there was any guarana extract used at all.
Guarana is available in many
forms, such as chocolate bars, capsules, powder, chewing gum, and
syrup. Many of these products can only be found in Brazil, but you
might spot some of them in health shops or Brazilian shops.
An animal study examined the effect of 14 days of guarana supplementation on fat metabolism in sedentary and trained rats and found that the guarana's fat-burning effect is due to the caffeine content. Decaffeinated guarana extracts had no effect on lipid metabolism.
A Journal of Psychopharmacology study found that guarana improved memory, mood and alertness at low (37.5 mg, 75 mg) vs. higher (150 mg, 300 mg) doses. However, another study examined the long-term use of guarana, caffeine, or placebo on the cognition of 45 older individuals. There were no significant effects of guarana on cognition.
Guarana contains a high amount of guaranine, a chemical substance with the same characteristics as caffeine. This makes Guarana a stimulant similar to coffee, which means that it:
quickens perceptions
delays sleep
helps with endurance based activities
can help to recover from a hangover
impairs the appetite
will lead to more frequent visits to the toilet
causes a higher blood pressure and an increased heart rate
can make you feel jittery and may prevent sleep at all.
Guarana is not:
a 'miracle medicine'
a dangerous drug
an easy way to lose weight
a vitamin
a food supplement
Not proven by scientific research, but some users state that:
Guarana is a 'Smart Drug' that improves mental functions such as cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention, and concentration.
their health improved thanks to guarana
Although rare, serious side effects from guarana have been reported. Stop taking guarana and seek emergency medical attention if you experience:
a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives; or
irregular heartbeats or chest pain.
Other less serious side effects may also reported with the use of guarana. Talk to your doctor or health care provider if you experience:
heartburn;
upset stomach;
loss of appetite;
constipation or diarrhea;
nervousness, irritability, or anxiety;
sleeplessness;
irregular heartbeats; or
headache.
Theoretically, it is
possible to overdose on caffeine or guarana. The fatal dose has been
estimated at 10 grams of pure caffeine / guaranine (taken at once!).
Guarana seeds contain maximal 10% caffeine, so when you would
swallow at least 100 grams guarana seeds at once, things start to
look ugly. Our advice: don't even think about it.
To put all of
this in perspective: the average cup of coffee contains 65-130
milligrams of caffeine; some very strong guarana-based syrups can
contain up to 350 milligrams.
People with cardiac problems or a high blood pressure should avoid Guarana (and smoking or drinking coffee, for that matter) When in doubt - consult your doctor.
As with all stimulants, dependency may occur.
Initial symptoms of guarana overdose include difficulty urinating, vomiting, and abdominal cramps and spasms. If you suspect a guarana overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
Guarana, or its active constituent caffeine, should not be taken when formulated with ephedrine in diet aids or performance-enhancing supplements. Potentially fatal irregular heartbeats have been reported to occur.
Guarana has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of guarana may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Talk to your doctor or health care provider before taking guarana if you have:
heart problems or high blood pressure,
kidney disease,
an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), or
an anxiety or nervous disorder.
Guarana contains a large amount of caffeine which may be problematic if used by people with any of the conditions listed above. You may not be able to use guarana, or your doctor or health care provider may recommend a lower dose or special monitoring.
Before taking guarana, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have allergies (especially to plants), have any medical condition, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Guarana may not be recommended in some situations.
Do not take guarana without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. Guarana contains a large amount of caffeine. Do not take guarana without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Guarana contains a large amount of caffeine, which may cause restlessness, sleep disorders, and other effects in breast-feeding infants. There is no information available regarding the use of guarana by children. Guarana contains a large amount of caffeine, which may cause anemia and other problems in children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.
Here are some reviews taken from a famous Internet website which further helps to shed light on some of the benefits of Guarana:
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, helped me kick the coffee habit, February 12, 2011
By
M. Causevic (Revere, MA United States)
I bought [Guarana Pills] in hopes of improving my energy throughout the day without the awful crash that most caffeine related liquids/pills seem to leave me with. I take one pill with breakfast and another half during the afternoon. The combo of 1 and 1/2 pills does wonders for me and the best of all is the fact that I don't get jittery or have to deal with that post coffee/energy drink crash that usually requires a nap.
I am sure this supplement will have different effects on different people but personally, for someone who needs that 'energy kick' during the day and can't stand the upset stomach I get with coffee and other energy drinks... Guarana comes through as the best possible solution.
There are no side effects to report from my end. Straight usage of 30 days and nothing but pure energy!
All in all, this was a great purchase for me. I no longer drink coffee nor energy drinks thanks to Guarana.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good natural caffeine source, May 7, 2009
By
Mark Baum (Freeport, PA)
Compared to downing lots of energy drinks these Super Guarana tablets are very good and affordable (it helps to shop around for a better value).
At first the size of the tabs was a little intimidating. But, with a glass of fruit juice, it was no problem ingesting the tablet. In addition to the guarana each tab contains 500mg of calcium in the form of dicalcium phosphate. The rest of the tablet is composed of vegetable-based fillers and binders.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Guarana is great for energy and these are super, June 1, 2007
By
S. Forbes (Monrovia, CA USA)
With all the energy drinks coming out that use Guarana as a natural caffeine, like Monster, No Fear, etc., now you can buy the strongest form of the pill that I have seen for even longer staying power. I got 4 hrs extra energy from one tab and if you have never used an energy pill only try 1 first to see how your body resonds. It takes effect about an hour after digestion for me but then you feel it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
>4.0 out of 5 stars It's okay but not perfect, November 15, 2009
By
Physical Therapist (Las Vegas, NV)
I don't take 2 tabs in one drinking. I have to split it 6 hour difference in a day. It's 1200mg and I think it's strong enough. I've tried a different brand... it's only 400mg (I take 2 tabs in one drinking) but it keeps me active throughout the day but like any other caffeine-based supplements (coffee, chocolates, and tea included), there's a crash. I have to sleep 1 hour to continue the rest of the day.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Super Guarana, October 11, 2011
By
Ennis M. Evjen (Idaho, A Beautiful Place/w No Pollution)
I bought this product... at the health Food Store but in a 600mg tablet. I was very impressed about how well it worked for me. It Suppressed my appetite so well. I will have to be careful with these being they are double the amount of the others. I think these work great.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Great for before a workout, August 8, 2011
By
Nuggle
This is good stuff. When paired with White Willow Bark (a natural aspirin), it's great for a pre-workout energy boost! I only take half a supplement at a time because I'm a pretty small person, but it does the job, and doesn't give the same angry caffeine buzz like coffee does. It is an even energy boost that doesn't make you crash. I like that. Overall it's a great product and I say buy it, try it out.
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5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!, June 21, 2011
By
Kimberly J. Karas
I'm a heavy coffee drinker and so... I thought it would be nice to give guarana a try. Heard about it from a friend who saw it on Dr Oz. While it comes in different mg, I anticipated I would need a higher one like this. I take one with morning coffee or two instead of coffee. Cannot take in the afternoon or it interferes with settling at night. If you overdo it can make you irritable, use with caution. Best thing about it, no jitters and no crash. Oh and fewer trips to the bathroom!!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Coffee energy without the Twang-Jitters, April 14, 2011
By
T. JORGENSON "Pamphleteer" (Loose Angles, Ca USA)
GUARANA, as I understand it, is an alkaloided caffeine...which means you get the energy without the jitters, nervousness or snippy attitude that too much coffee gives you.
This will keep you energized and aleret pretty much all day, and you don't feel 'up', you just feel like you have good energy for some reason. This stuff is better than the liquid shots being touted all over, plus it's A LOT cheaper and handier.
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