What is guarana?
Guarana (Paullinia cupana, Brazilian cocoa) is a plant that can be found in Amazon rain forest of Venezuela and northern Brazil. Its fruit are small, bright-red, and contains black seeds.
And these black seeds are incredibly rich in caffeine, with approximately double the caffeine of coffee beans. Moreover, seeds of guarana are rich in tannins and xanthine alkaloids theophylline and theobromine. This plant is famous for its ability to increase mental alertness, fight fatigue, and increase stamina and physical endurance. However, it could also stimulate the central nervous system and heart, and this may cause the anxiety and rapid heart rate in larger amounts.
Guarana is one of the richest sources of caffeine. It contains up to 3 times the amount of caffeine as coffee. However, the amount of caffeine doesn’t have to be listed on guarana drinks.
In addition, guarana is a popular ingredient in herbal weight loss pills due to its stimulant and diuretic effects. Some studies claim that this plant may suppress appetite and increase fat-burning.
You can easily find guarana in powder and pill form in health stores or online. It is an ingredient in energy drinks, sodas, and other beverages. For example, drinks and sodas, that contain guarana, are very popular in Brazil. And in North America this plant has recently become a popular ingredient in energy drinks and teas too.
Although many advertisements state that guarana is completely free from side effects, this is not true. For instance, if your work or hobbies requires fine hand eye coordination like painting or assembly, then you might find this herb irritating because it can induce small tremors.
You should also pay attention to the fact that guarana should not be used by people who are sensitive to caffeine or xanthines. Besides people with heart conditions, diabetes, anxiety, high blood epilepsy, pressure, overactive thyroid, insomnia, and kidney disease should use guarana under the strict supervision of their practitioner.
The side effects that can be caused by guarana in pregnant or nursing women has not been established yet. But still the doctors recommend limiting caffeine during pregnancy and nursing. That is why in these cases guarana should be avoided.