Guaraná is an evergreen vine found growing in the wild basins of the Amazon rain forests. The indigenous people of the Amazon rain forest have used crushed guaraná seed as a beverage and a medicine. Guaraná was used to treat diarrhea, decrease fatigue, reduce hunger, and to help arthritis.
Guarana's active components are guaranine and the alkaloids theobromine and theophylline. Guaranine is almost identical in chemical structure to caffeine and has many of the same effects. Guaraná also contains tannins, which may account for its traditional use to treat diarrhea.
Guaraná, in combination with Asian ginseng and Siberian ginseng, is often used by athletes in an attempt to produce an energizing effect. However, there are not any clinical studies conclusively substantiating the benefit of guaraná for this purpose.
Guarana for Weight Loss
Guaraná contains a substance similar to caffeine called guaranine. Guaranine stimulates the central nervous system, increases metabolism, and has a mild diuretic effect. It has been suggested that in combination with other herbs, guarana (guaranine) may be effective in helping to promote weight loss. This effect is probably due to an appetite suppressing mechanism, an increase in calorie burning, or both.
Conditions
- Energy
- Weight Loss
Recommendations
- Biotest Spike ($15 for 16 tablets)
- Guaraná products that provide up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day are considered safe.
Interactions & Side Effects
- Guaranine, a chemical compound found in guaraná, produces many of the same effects as caffeine. Individuals with conditions that may be complicated by high caffeine intake (including insomnia, depression, and pregnancy) should consult with a physician before adding guaraná to their diet.
- The combination of guarana (or other stimulants) with ephedra can lead to dangerous conditions such as high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat. The FDA banned products containing ephedra after receiving reports of illness and death related to dietary supplements containing ephedra (ma huang), some of which also contained guarana.
- Avoid guarana if you are pregnant or nursing, or have heart problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease, anxiety disorder, an overactive thyroid, caffeine sensitivity or other conditions that could be aggravated by caffeine.
Disclaimer: This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regime, it is advisible to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.