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Guarana

Overview

Guarana is a plant. It is named for the Guarani tribe in the Amazon, who used its seeds to brew a drink. Today, guarana seeds are still used as medicine.

People take guarana by mouth for obesity, athletic performance, mental performance, to increase energy, as an aphrodisiac, and for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Guarana can also be unsafe when taken long-term in large amounts.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Plant

Primary Functions:

Obesity

Also Known As:

Brazilian Cocoa, Cacao Brésilien, Guarana Seed Extract, Guaranine

How Does It Work?

Guarana contains caffeine. Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system (CNS), heart, and muscles. Guarana also contains theophylline and theobromine, which are chemicals similar to caffeine.

Uses

  • Anxiety. Early research shows that taking a product containing hawthorn, black horehound, passionflower, valerian, cola nut, and guarana can reduce anxiety in some people. It is not clear if guarana alone is beneficial.
  • Lack of appetite in people with cancer. Early research shows that taking guarana extract slightly improves appetite and prevents weight loss in people with cancer who have lost their appetite and are losing weight. But the benefit is very small.
  • Tiredness in people treated with cancer drugs. Some research shows that taking guarana can reduce feelings of tiredness in some people undergoing chemotherapy. But conflicting results exist.
  • Improving memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Early research in healthy people shows that taking a single dose of guarana extract can improve thinking speed and some aspects of memory. However, other research shows that taking guarana does not improve mental function in adults or older people.
  • Athletic performance. Research shows that taking a single dose of a product containing guarana, B vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals improves exercise tolerance in trained athletes by a very small amount. It is not clear if guarana alone is beneficial.
  • Obesity. Taking guarana along with mate and damiana seems to increase weight loss. There is also developing evidence that taking a specific combination product containing guarana, ephedra, and 17 other vitamins, minerals, and supplements helps reduce weight by approximately 2.7 kg over 8 weeks when used with a low-fatdiet and exercise. It is not clear if guarana alone is beneficial.
  • Feelings of well-being. Early research shows that taking guarana does not improve feelings of well-being in healthy individuals.
  • Serious illness caused by radiation exposure. Research shows that taking guarana does not improve symptoms of depression or tiredness in people undergoing radiation treatment.
  • Athletic performance.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Fluid retention.
  • Headache.
  • Heart disease.
  • Increasing sexual desire in healthy people.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Malaria.
  • Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  • Other conditions.

Recommended Dosing

The appropriate dose of guarana depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for guarana. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Guarana Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Guarana bad for you?

By speeding up the nervous system, stimulant medications can make you feel jittery and increase your heart rate. The caffeine in guarana might also speed up the nervous system. Taking guarana along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

What are the benefits of guarana?

Here are 12 benefits of guarana, all supported by science.

  • Rich in Antioxidants.
  • Can Reduce Fatigue and Improve Focus.
  • May Help You Learn Better.
  • May Promote Weight Loss.
  • May Relieve Chronic Diarrhea and Treat Constipation.
  • May Boost Heart Health.
  • May Provide Pain Relief.
  • May Improve Skin Appearance.

Is Guarana better than caffeine?

Guarana energy is much longer lasting than coffee, plus the stimulation is less jittery and more clear in character. Guarana is absorbed slowly by the body. Guarana not only contains higher amounts of caffeine than coffee, it also contains other alkaloids and fats that suppress the sensation of hunger and thirst.

Is Guarana a stimulant?

As a dietary supplement or herb, guarana seed is an effective stimulant: it contains about twice the concentration of caffeine found in coffee seeds (about 2–4.5% caffeine in guarana seeds, compared to 1–2% for coffee seeds).

Does guarana help with weight loss?

May Promote Weight Loss

Interestingly, guarana may have properties that help promote weight loss. First, guarana is a rich source of caffeine, which may boost your metabolism by 3–11% over 12 hours. A faster metabolism means your body burns more calories at rest ( 22 ).

Is Guarana safe to take everyday?

Guarana is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken my mouth in medicinal amounts for a short time. Guarana is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taking by mouth in high doses for a long time. Doses greater than 250-300 mg daily have been linked to side effects. Consider that one cup of brewed coffee provides from 95-200 mg of caffeine.

How long does it take for guarana to work?

The increase occurs within 30 minutes and lasts for at least 90 minutes after drinking caffeinated beverages. Osteoporosis: The caffeine in guarana can flush calcium out of the body through the kidneys.

Is Guarana in Red Bull?

Bombastically named energy drinks such as Full Throttle, Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar all contain the herbal supplement guarana. The compound is also found in over-the-counter weight loss products, and it's been marketed as an aphrodisiac.

Does Guarana suppress appetite?

Guarana. The guarana plant has been used for hundreds of years for various purposes, including appetite suppression. How it works: Guarana contains more caffeine than any other plant in the world. Caffeine stimulates your nervous system and has been shown to decrease appetite and boost metabolism.

How much guarana should I take?

Although guarana has no recommended dosage, most human-based research has found that doses as low as 50–75 mg can provide the health benefits linked to guarana.

What are the side effects of guarana?

Side effects depend on the dose. At typical doses, the caffeine in guarana can cause insomnia, nervousness and restlessness, stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, tremors, delirium, diuresis, and other side effects.

What foods contain guarana?

The seeds of the guarana fruit. Bombastically named energy drinks such as Full Throttle, Monster, Red Bull and Rockstar all contain the herbal supplement guarana. The compound is also found in over-the-counter weight loss products, and it's been marketed as an aphrodisiac.

Does Guarana affect blood pressure?

High blood pressure: Taking guarana might raise blood pressure, in people with high blood pressure due to its caffeine content. However, this effect might be less in people who are regular coffee-drinkers or otherwise use caffeine on a regular basis.

Is Guarana a diuretic?

This is likely a result of tannins, which are known for being astringent, or constricting. This allows them to bind and contract the tissue in your digestive tract. However, as previously mentioned, guarana is very high in caffeine, which acts as a diuretic or natural laxative.

Is Guarana just caffeine?

Guarana is a climbing plant native to the Amazon whose seeds contain approximately four times the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans. The mix of other natural chemicals contained in guarana seeds is thought to heighten the stimulant effects of guarana over caffeine alone.

How much caffeine is in guarana?

Guarana has among the highest concentrations of caffeine in any plant. It may contain up to 3.6% to 5.8% caffeine by weight. Coffee only has up to 2%.

How many mg of guarana is safe?

Guarana is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken my mouth in medicinal amounts for a short time. Guarana is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taking by mouth in high doses for a long time. Doses greater than 250-300 mg daily have been linked to side effects. Side effects depend on the dose.

How much guarana is in energy drinks?

Guarana in a 16-ounce energy drink ranges from 1.4 mg to as much as 300 mg. It is unclear how much guarana is in each drink because many companies do not list a milligram amount. The safety of guarana in higher levels remains unknown, but these high levels could be easily achieved by consuming multiple drinks.

How do you make guarana?

Boil up a cup or two of water, and then spoon in about two grams of guarana powder into the water. Let it heat up, then take it off the heat and sip it as you would a tea or coffee. Keep in mind that it is very potent, and provides about twice as much energy as a cup of coffee.

How do you dissolve Guarana powder?

Perhaps the best way to take guarana powder is as a type of tea. Boil up a cup or two of water, and then spoon in about two grams of guarana powder into the water. Let it heat up, then take it off the heat and sip it as you would a tea or coffee.

What does guarana fruit taste like?

To describe the taste, it is a little fruity tasting, with a tiny tiny taste of ginger ale and a little taste of the apple soda Manzita Sol, but Guarana in my opinion is way better. You can taste the Guarana extract in it that gives it it's unique flavor.

Is Guarana legal in the US?

As a supplement, guarana is considered "generally recognized as safe" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The guarana vine originated in the Amazon basin, where local people have long taken advantage of its stimulating properties.

Is Guarana FDA approved?

GUARANA (GWAHR uh nah), also known as Paullinia, is an herbal product or dietary supplement. It is promoted as a stimulant, increasing alertness in people who are tired or sleepy. It is also promoted as an aid for weight loss. The FDA has not approved this herb for any medical use.

Clinical Studies