Guarana: where does this plant come from and what does it look like
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- Guarana: where does this plant come from and what it looks like
- Definition and presentation
- How to consume it
- Guarana: the health benefits
- Gives vitality, strength and energy
- Helps to lose weight
- Helps digestion
- Helps manage anxiety and neurodegenerative disorders
- It has antibacterial properties
- It could improve the quality of life of cancer patients
- Beneficial action on the skin and scalp
- What are the side effects and disadvantages of guarana
- Which version should I choose: powder, capsule or drink
- My opinion on guarana
Native to the Amazon, guarana is a small climbing shrub with many lianas, belonging to the Sapindaceae family.
Traditionally used by the Indians of the Amazon and known as “the eye of the forest” due to its circular shape, guarana is particularly known for its beneficial properties. Known in Europe since the 18th century, guarana was discovered by the German doctor Paullini.
It is a plant that contains a high dose of caffeine. The flowers of the guarana are greenish in color and are arranged in clusters. The fruit is small and red, with three lobes that contain a black, oval seed.
It is referred to by many as a super food, along with goji seeds, or Spirulina. Definition and presentation
The benefits of guarana are due in particular to the substances that compose it. Among these are alkaloids, adenines, guaranine, which are highly concentrated in caffeine, mucilages and tannins. It also contains essential fatty acids, mineral salts such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium, but also trace elements including selenium and strontium. Guarana also contains vitamins A, E, B1, B3 and PP.
The benefits of guarana are as follows:
- It can help digestion;
- It can help improve concentration;
- It appears to help improve memory;
- It can have a positive action to reduce tiredness;
- It has stimulating properties thanks to the caffeine it contains.
How to consume
it Guarana can be consumed in various forms, the best known being the powder and the capsules.
For capsules, it is recommended to consume 75 to 250 mg per serving. Guarana can also be taken in powder form, 450 to 500 mg diluted in water or fruit juice. It is recommended to take about 2 to 4 grams of guarana per day before meals for four to six weeks.
As an infusion, it is recommended to put a tea bag of guarana in a cup of very hot water and leave it to infuse for 3 to 4 minutes. It can also be eaten cold. Guarana: the health benefits
Guarana seeds have one of the highest percentages of caffeine (also known as guaranine which is chemically identical to caffeine) contained in a plant. In fact, it contains more than twice as much caffeine as coffee.
Guarana is rich in bioactive compounds such as caffeine, theobromine, theophylline, tannins, saponins, catechins, epicatechins and proanthocyanidins.
Guarana manages to suppress appetite, especially when combined with mate and damiana.
It appears that guarana may also play a role in controlling the expression of genes that are involved in the accumulation of fat. Regulates the expression of pro-adipogenic genes and promotes the expression of anti-adipogenic genes.Gives vitality, strength and energy
One of the most renowned benefits of guarana is its energizing effect. Guarana has a chemical structure similar to that of caffeine, and the seeds of the plant provide the same effects as caffeine, which among other things are amplified compared to typical caffeine-based drinks, including coffee. Guarana may be more effective than coffee in its energizing power, as guarana is released more slowly in the body to provide energy.
The plant directly stimulates the central nervous system and can be taken in small doses to combat fatigue and increase activity levels. Helps to lose weight
Guarana has been used for centuries, as early natives used it to make herbal teas that suppressed hunger.
Guarana is used today in some energy drinks and weight loss supplements, ideal for providing the stimuli to fight hunger. Guarana can promote weight loss by stimulating the nervous system to induce the lipolysis process. This process involves the release of fat into the bloodstream where it is used as energy during exercise. Helps digestion
In addition to its energizing and weight loss effects, guarana also provides a number of other benefits for the body. Guarana encourages bowel movement, which is a beneficial effect for people suffering from constipation. Additionally, guarana is effective for treating other gut complications, including gas and diarrhea, as it helps detoxify and cleanse the system. Helps Manage Anxiety and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Guarana powder is thought to have protective effects on the brain and nervous system. It prevents the formation (or accumulation) of amyloid plaques and the glycation of proteins, reduces oxidative stress, eliminates reactive oxygen species (ROS or free radicals) and decreases the activity of acetylcholinesterase.
All of these effects prevent neuronal death, thus proving beneficial for the treatment of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease in model organisms. Has antibacterial properties
Tannins make up a significant fraction of the bioactive ingredients of guarana. Together with other phytochemicals, tannins pose a threat to several known bacterial strains, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.
Guarana also reduces the levels of pro-inflammatory compounds (i.e. interferons and interleukins) in the body. This indirectly demonstrates that it can be a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and protect you from bacterial-induced hypersensitivity.Could improve the quality of life of cancer patients
Thanks to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of guarana, it can be used as an inexpensive and non-toxic alternative to treat fatigue, anxiety, anorexia and other chemotherapy-induced ailments .
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy showed improvement in their behavior, appetite, body weight and quality of life when they received various forms of guarana extract.
Scientists are working to understand more about this effect. Beneficial action on the skin and scalp
Guarana seeds have powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties as they contain high amounts of methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine and theophylline), saponins, pigments and choline.
Guarana is used in skin and hair products due to these properties. It will give you back a young and radiant skin, shiny and dandruff-free hair, and also cure most pathogenic infections on the skin and scalp.
Some products used to treat cellulite incorporate guarana due to its high caffeine content. What are the side effects and disadvantages of guarana
Most of the side effects of guarana come from its abundance of caffeine. As many healthier health supplements and nutraceuticals contain significant amounts of guarana, it is imperative to keep in mind the following risks and adverse effects if used excessively:
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Difficulty during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- Hypersensitivity (allergies);
- Diarrhea;
- Flatulence;
- Nausea;
- Cardiac arrhythmia and related problems for athletes engaged in demanding physical activities.
For these reasons we advise you to always consult your doctor before taking anything. Which version should I choose: powder, capsule or drink
Guarana comes in a variety of forms. In its most natural form, guarana is a dry paste made from the seeds of the plant. It is commercially available in the form of syrups, extracts, supplements in pills or capsules, and additives for energy drinks.
Generally, it is combined with ephedra, another weight loss stimulant, when used for products that stimulate weight loss.
In any case, we recommend that you consult your doctor for more information on forms of guarana and dosage. My opinion on guarana
Guarana is one of the richest fruits of the Amazon. In addition to its attractive appearance, this fruit has numerous benefits.
It has powerful antioxidant, antinociceptive, diuretic, lipolytic, neurostimulating, antipyretic, rejuvenating and invigorating effects on your body.
Try to choose a product made naturally, without chemical additions. Make sure it is a certified product before making your purchase.
