What Does Guarana Do?

Guaraná is has been harvested in the Amazon rainforest for centuries by the indigenous Guarani tribe of Brazil. The berry has become a signature ingredient and flavor in Brazilian culinary culture and has recently been "discovered" in the United States as a miracle substance. While Guaraná is a naturally powerful stimulant, it is much more. In Brazil it is coveted for its natural and unique flavor, as the national drink of Brazil is Guaraná soda.

Guaraná

• The tropical berry is indigenous to the Amazon Basin region of northwestern Brazil and parts of Venezuela. The berry was named for the Guarani tribe people, who continue as the principle harvesters of guaraná berries to this day. The plant was first used for medicinal and culinary purposes, as the Guarani believed the herb could magically restore energy. They were not far off, as a guaraná berry contains nearly twice the the amount of caffeine per volume as a coffee bean.

Chemical Structure

• The botanical name for guaraná is paullinia cupana, and the major active constituent is guaranine (chemically identical to caffeine). As well as caffeine, guarana contains alkaloids that are found in coffee and black tea such as theobromine and theophylline, which have significant effects on the nervous system. The caffeine content in guaraná is nearly twice as concentrated as a coffee bean; averaging at around 5.5 percent whereas coffee averages around 2 percent. The remainder of the seed contains nearly 50 percent vegetable fiber, 8.3 percent starch, 7.6 percent water, nearly 6 percent guaraná acid, 7.5 percent pectin, malic acid, mucilage, dextrin and salts, colorant and other acids.

Stimulant

• Caffeine is the dominant chemical in guaraná. Guaraná acts as a stimulant on the nervous system, just like a shot of espresso. Guaraná increases energy, sharpens perception, enhances endurance during heavy activity (it is often used before a sport), reduces fatigue, speeds hangover recovery time, decreases appetite, increases heart rate and thus increases metabolism.

Weight Loss

• The guaranine (caffeine) content in guaraná suppresses appetite, and therefore can aid weight loss. Similar to the hyped "coffee diet," the idea behind caffeine diets is that the less hungry a person is, the less likely they will eat. Studies have also shown that the intake of caffeine following activity helps increase metabolism, another key to weight loss and maintaining of a healthy body weight.

Health Tonic

• The original uses of guaraná were for its health benefits. However, it must be noted that guaraná is neither a drug nor medicine. It is considered an effective for the relief of headaches and migraines, intestinal distress, as a blood cleanser and as a body coolant because it lowers the body temperature and can help reduce the risk of heat stroke.

Warning

• There are many products available on the U.S. market that contain and market guaraná for energy. However, guaraná is an expensive ingredient compared with caffeine, though contains the same benefits. Guaraná is a stimulant, and should not be abused. Like caffeine, it can be overdosed and result in negative side affects such as insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and trembling. Guaraná can be especially dangerous to people with high blood pressure or heart disease.