Guarana: for energy and focus + many more health benefits 

Guarana has been on the rise in popularity, attributed to its extraordinary health advantages, spanning from heightened energy levels to weight management. Do these claims have support in modern research? Is guarana a safe supplement or do its potential side effects outweigh the possible benefits? Numerous studies are being conducted to investigate the health effects of guarana – many of them confirming its extraordinary effects on various organs and systems in the human body. Let’s take a closer look at the health benefits of the Guarana plant.

What is Guarana?

Guarana is an extract from the seeds of the Paullinia cupana plant, which grows in the Amazon basin. Specially grown and harvested for its high caffeine content, the plant is extracted by drying, roasting and crushing the seeds. This process allows the guarana extract to be processed into various forms, such as raw powder or syrup, which are widely used in energy drinks and other food products.

In South America, guarana has a long history of use as part of the folk medicine of the peoples who live along the Amazon. It is used to treat a variety of conditions including headaches, gastrointestinal problems and painful menstruation. Its application as a stimulant is particularly popular, helping to overcome fatigue as well as reducing feelings of hunger and thirst. These effects of using guarana extract are impressive. 

The caffeine contained in guarana 4 to 6 times higher than that in coffee. The components contained in the extract include not only caffeine but also various phytonutrients such as flavonoids, epicatechin and theobromine, which are also found in chocolate. Research reports various health benefits from guarana intake, including increased energy, improved memory and attention, beneficial effects on heart health, anti-inflammatory properties and weight loss. It has even been suggested that guarana may be useful as a therapy for certain chronic diseases.

Health benefits of taking guarana

Guarana is a natural energy booster

Feeling tired? Don’t reach for the coffee – try guarana plant extract!

The caffeine in guarana works similarly to other caffeinated drinks by blocking the action of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired. However, unlike coffee, guarana is released slowly, giving you a long-lasting burst of energy. In addition to reducing physical fatigue, one study shows that guarana also improves mental fatigue.

Guarana may protect against cancer

Although more research is needed, there are some promising studies that show the anti-cancer effects of guarana. So far, studies have shown that guarana prevents DNA damage, inhibits cancer cell growth, and induces cancer cell death. Why is this so? Researchers suggest that it is due to the xanthines that are part of the guarana’s composition. These are compounds similar to caffeine and theobromine.

Guarana can improve learning ability

Like matcha, guarana has some serious benefits for boosting brain and cognitive abilities. A 2007 study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology tested the behavioral effects of guarana on humans. The results showed that participants who took 75 mg of guarana “had more positive cognitive effects” compared to placebo. Although caffeine played an important role in this process, the researchers do not believe that this was the only reason why participants did better. A slightly earlier study published in 2004 also showed that participants who took guarana extract performed better on tasks and completed them faster.

Guarana is good for the heart

If you’re looking for a heart-healthy supplement, look no further. Guarana extract will be beneficial for you. This Brazilian berry is good for the heart in two ways:

First, guarana can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by preventing blood clots. Research shows that caffeine and catechins have “antiplatelet aggregating activity.”

The second way that guarana may benefit the heart is to reduce plaque buildup in the arteries by reducing oxidation of bad cholesterol.

Guarana can be good for your skin

We all know that wearing sunscreen is a great way to protect our skin from harmful UV rays, but caffeine can help too!

Studies have shown that caffeine’s antioxidant properties protect cells from UV radiation and show anti-aging properties as they slow down the skin’s photoaging process.

Guarana may provide pain relief

Did you know that most over-the-counter pain medications contain caffeine? It also improves their effectiveness by 40%! How is it possible? This is because caffeine binds to and blocks adenosine receptors, two of which are responsible for stimulating the sensation of pain. Because of the high caffeine content in guarana, it can be useful when it comes to pain relief.

In conclusion

Guarana is a supplement with a variety of potential health benefits that cover a wide spectrum, from boosting energy and improving focus to weight maintenance. Scientific studies have highlighted the positive effects of guarana, which include reducing fatigue during exercise, aiding the weight loss process, and even aiding memory and attention. Also, guarana features antioxidant properties that contribute to the body’s overall health.

Resources:

1. Guarana. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; January 28, 2023.
2. da Silva GS, Canuto KM, Ribeiro PRV, et al. Chemical profiling of guarana seeds (Paullinia cupana) from different geographical origins using UPLC-QTOF-MS combined with chemometrics. Food Res Int. 2017;102:700-709. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2017.09.055
3. Torres EAFS, Pinaffi-Langley ACDC, Figueira MS, et al. Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2022;21(1):272-295. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12862
4. Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Robertson B, et al. Improved cognitive performance and mental fatigue following a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement with added guaraná (Paullinia cupana). Appetite. 2008;50(2-3):506-513. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2007.10.007
5. Veasey RC, Haskell-Ramsay CF, Kennedy DO, et al. The Effects of Supplementation with a Vitamin and Mineral Complex with Guaraná Prior to Fasted Exercise on Affect, Exertion, Cognitive Performance, and Substrate Metabolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2015;7(8):6109-6127. Published 2015 Jul 27. doi:10.3390/nu7085272
6. Jader B. Ruchel, Josiane B.S. Braun, Stephen A. Adefegha, Alessandra Guedes Manzoni, Fátima H. Abdalla, Juliana S. de Oliveira, Kelly Trelles, Cristiane Signor, Sônia T. A Lopes, Cássia B. da Silva, Lívia G. Castilhos, Maribel A. Rubin, Daniela B. R Leal,
7. Hack B, Penna EM, Talik T, Chandrashekhar R, Millard-Stafford M. Effect of Guarana (Paullinia cupana) on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023;15(2):434. Published 2023 Jan 14. doi:10.3390/nu15020434
8. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) ameliorates memory impairment and modulates acetylcholinesterase activity in Poloxamer-407-induced hyperlipidemia in rat brain, Physiology & Behavior, Volume 168, 2017, Pages 11-19, ISSN 0031-9384, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.10.003.
9. Portella Rde L, Barcelos RP, da Rosa EJ, et al. Guaraná (Paullinia cupana Kunth) effects on LDL oxidation in elderly people: an in vitro and in vivo study. Lipids Health Dis. 2013;12:12. Published 2013 Feb 8. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-12-12
10. Ruchel JB, Bernardes VM, Braun JBS, et al. Lipotoxicity-associated inflammation is prevented by guarana (Paullinia cupana) in a model of hyperlipidemia. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2021;44(5):524-532. doi:10.1080/01480545.2019.1624767