5 reasons to try guarana
Guarana (also drinking Pauline in Czech) is a climbing plant originally from the Brazilian Amazon, where the inhabitants have used it since ancient times for its stimulating and energizing effects. Guarana came to Europe from South America thanks to Jesuit missionaries. Her first chemical analysis, carried out in the early 18th century, produced surprising results. It was possible to extract a large amount of a white crystalline substance from the plant, which was named guaranine. Today we know this substance under the name caffeine.
Guarana berries are easy to recognize at first glance. Beneath the deep red skin is a white pulp and a black seed that pops to the surface when ripe. Ripe fruits so strikingly resemble the human eye.
Currently, 70% of guarana production is used in the beverage industry as part of non-alcoholic and energy drinks. From the remaining 30%, the seeds are ground into a powder to produce an extract that contains an impressive amount of stimulants, led by caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. It also stands out for its abundance of antioxidants such as tannins, saponins and catechins. In addition, guarana is rich in minerals, amino acids and vitamins of group B and C. [ 1 ]
What are the scientifically proven benefits of guarana consumption?
1. A rich source of antioxidants
Guarana is literally loaded with compounds with antioxidant effects. These include, for example, caffeine, theobromine, tannins, saponins and catechins. Guarana thus contains similar amounts and types of antioxidants as green tea. [ 2 ]
Antioxidants are important for human health because they counteract harmful free radicals. These molecules are highly reactive and can easily endanger and destroy healthy cells. They cause, for example, premature aging of the skin, heart disease, cancer and other diseases. [ 3 ]
During laboratory studies, scientists discovered that in a test-tube environment, the antioxidants contained in guarana work against the growth of cancer cells, reduce the risk of heart disease and skin aging. [ 4 ]
2. Less fatigue and more concentration
Guarana is best known as an ingredient in popular energy drinks. And no wonder - it is an excellent source of caffeine, which provides energy and helps maintain concentration. Interestingly, guarana seeds can contain four to six times more caffeine than coffee beans. [ 5 ] And as a bonus, guarana contains alkaloids, which make the caffeine-stimulating effect last much longer than that of coffee.
Caffeine works by blocking the effects of a substance called adenosine, which has a calming effect on the brain and induces sleep. Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors and prevents their activation. [ 6 ]
Studies have shown that people taking food supplements containing guarana felt less tired after completing several tests compared to those taking a placebo. [ 7 ]
There are even studies concluding that guarana helps reduce mental fatigue during cancer treatment without serious side effects. [ 8 ]
3. For better academic results
The fact that guarana helps in the learning process and improves memory is also considered scientifically proven. One study examined the effects of different doses of guarana on mood and learning. Participants received doses of guarana in amounts of: 0 (placebo), 37.5 mg, 75 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg. The highest scores in the following test were subsequently achieved by people who received either 37.5 mg or 75 mg of guarana. [ 9 ] However, low doses of guarana contain less caffeine, so it is assumed that other substances in guarana than caffeine may be responsible for the better results in the test.
Another study compared the effects of guarana with another brain-enhancing compound, ginseng. Both guarana and ginseng in this study demonstrably contributed to the improvement of memory abilities and performance in knowledge tests. However, participants who ingested guarana paid more attention to their tasks and completed them faster, according to the results of this study. [ 10 ] In addition, animal studies have also shown improvement in memory abilities. [ 11 ]
4. Weight loss helper
Obesity is an increasingly serious civilizational problem globally and currently affects one in three American adults. At the same time, obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, including heart disease, type II diabetes. type and cancer. [ 12 ]
In this context, it is interesting that guarana is considered a substance with a potentially positive effect on weight loss. The reason is also in this case the high caffeine content, which accelerates the metabolism by 3-11% within 12 hours after ingestion. [ 13 ] And the equation in this case is simple: a faster metabolism means more calories burned.
According to laboratory experiments, guarana could be responsible for suppressing genes that affect the production of fat cells. [ 14 ] However, these effects have not yet been confirmed in humans and remain unclear.
5. Relief from digestive problems
Inhabitants of the Amazon have been using guarana for centuries in the treatment of digestive problems, such as acute and chronic diarrhea or, conversely, constipation. Guarana works against diarrhea thanks to its high content of tannins and antioxidants. Tannins are known for their ability to contract tissues. [ 15 ] This effect makes it possible to seal the digestive tract and prevent the increased passage of water into the intestines, which is the main cause of diarrhea.
On the other hand, guarana is a rich source of caffeine, which can have the exact opposite effect and act as a natural laxative. Caffeine stimulates the peristalsis of the intestines and thus moves their contents towards the anus, thus helping to unblock constipation. [ 16 ]
In connection with the effect on digestion, the amount of guarana is key. Low doses of guarana contain only a small amount of caffeine and thus have an anti-diarrheal effect. In a large dose of guarana, on the other hand, there is a lot of caffeine, which can be manifested by laxative effects.
Do you know that…?
Did you know that we also use the benefits of guarana in Mindflow products? Guarana in combination with vitamin B12 and caffeine provide energy and delay fatigue by starting energy metabolism and blocking receptors in the brain. You can find this effective combination of substances in our products Mindflow Focus and Mindflow Focus Decaf .
