Micah Stanley
Guaraná has something to do with caffeine. But do you know the real Guaraná translation?
Guarana is a plant native to the Amazon rainforest. It is contained in many products such as drinks and chocolate, is said to wake you up and has a much better effect than coffee. In addition, Guaraná is recommended for weight loss – why? In the article, we reveal what’s involved and when caution is called for when enjoying the coffee alternative.
Guaraná effect: Jungle plant with a stimulating effect
Have you ever heard of Guarana? And what effect does it have? Under certain circumstances – Guaraná is now also available in many foods, for example drinks or chocolate. However, the ground seeds of the guarana plant are now also available as powder or capsules.
But what actually is Guarana? The plant is one that grows in the Amazon rainforest. From Paraguay to Brazil to Venezuela, it occurs wild in the rainforest in the rain forest as a shrub, climbing plant or liana. The difficult-to-grow plant from the Soapberry family has small, red-orange fruits that are protected within a shell like a chestnut and eventually fall from the tree. The germination time is only a few days, which also makes breeding so difficult.
The effects of the plant have been known to the locals for centuries, also as a medicine. Even today, when consuming Guaraná powder and Co., the focus is mostly on the health aspects, whether it’s about losing weight or the stimulating effect.
Especially when it comes to coffee, the Guaraná effect is sometimes heavily advertised. But is the plant really suitable as a coffee substitute, or is the hype surrounding Guaraná nothing more than a foul magic intended to give energy drinks and the like more legitimacy? Because they are not exactly without…
Guaraná: caffeine and the right dosage
Now the question arises about the Guaraná effect and how healthy the stimulant from South America really is. At least one thing can be said straight away: Guarana contains more caffeine than coffee or tea. And it actually looks different.
Guaraná has various ingredients that are interesting. One is caffeine, which makes up around 4-6% of dried seeds. On the other hand, it also contains the substances theophylline and theobromine, which are good for heart performance, among other things. Theobromine also has a similar effect to caffeine, but is also found in cocoa or mate, among other things.
The fact that the caffeine in Guaraná is bound to tannins is actually particularly interesting. This makes the effect so different when we take Guarana capsules and the like than when we drink coffee. Because the caffeine has to be released from the tannins by the body first, which takes a while. So while we have a fairly quick effect with coffee or tea, the guaraná effect lasts up to six hours. Of course that’s not so bad.
But when it comes to dosing Guaraná, there is more of a problem, because how much Guaraná does a cup of coffee ultimately have on the body? This is difficult to say due to the different modes of action and of course it depends on the caffeine content and, above all, on the amount consumed. Because the stimulating effect of caffeine can of course, as always, be overused if we take too much of a good thing. More on this in the section on Guaraná side effects.
You should not consume more than three to four grams of Guaraná per day. At the latest from twenty grams of dissolved guarana powder you come into critical areas, then there are definitely undesirable side effects. However, the dosage depends on individual tolerance, which you must discuss with your doctor. Especially when it comes to preparations such as capsules or powder.
In addition, such dietary supplements should always contain dosage information.
Losing weight with Guarana: does it really work?
Is Guarana good for losing weight? If you search for it on the Internet, you will surely find many sites that will tell you exactly that, because guarana is said to have a licking effect on your hunger thanks to the caffeine, but also on your thirst.
However, this has not really been proven, which is why its use as a miracle cure for losing weight is not necessarily suitable. If you still don’t want to do without Guaraná to lose weight, you should talk to your doctor before you plan your diet. Because it doesn’t matter whether it’s to lose weight or for other health reasons: food supplements should never be taken on your own – advice from a pharmacist or doctor is always the basic requirement.
What also speaks against the guarana weight loss effect is that the body gets used to things quite quickly – and that then takes you to a higher dosage, which in turn can have side effects. Therefore, it is better to change your diet and do sports – because then you can also do something for your health in the long term.
Guaraná: side effects and pregnancy
Caffeine is a nice stimulant and has a stimulating effect. But like coffee, the intake of guaraná also has side effects. In addition, there are also some groups of people who should not take Guaraná – in any form whatsoever.
Like coffee, there is an individual point in each person where the tolerable dose of caffeine is exceeded. The result is side effects that also exist with Guaraná:
- high blood pressure
- Tremble
- nausea
- malaise
- stomach pain
- increased irritability
- Muscle aches
It is important to know that caffeine is addictive. If you take Guaraná daily for more than four weeks, you should expect withdrawal symptoms as soon as you stop using the products. Just like with coffee.
In addition, there are also a few groups of people who should avoid Guaraná, whether in low or high doses:
- people with high blood pressure
- pregnant women
- breastfeeding
Because it’s actually clear – if you’re pregnant, you don’t drink coffee that contains caffeine. And that’s why Guarana should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women – in whatever form. Then you and your unborn or newborn child are on the safe side.
