Guarana : properties, uses, contraindications, effects, benefits and everything you need to know about taking guarana and its extracts.
Guarana is a climbing shrub native to the northern Amazon River, its botanical name is Paullinia cupana Kunth and in our country it has become famous for the substance extracted from its seeds.
Each fruit of this plant can contain up to a maximum of 3 seeds which, when dried, ground, kneaded and mixed, give rise to a mixture of active ingredients, first and foremost “guaranine”, a molecule very similar to caffeine.
Guarana seed powder is associated with multiple beneficial properties : guarana extracts are described as energizing even more than caffeine, it is supposed, in fact, that the active ingredients of guarana are assimilated more slowly by the body and therefore the effects would be slightly longer lasting than those of coffee.
Guarana powder
Guarana powder is considered an ancient remedy to support the body. All the Indian tribes used guarana powder for its tonic-stimulating and energizing effect: it was used to increase physical resistance during hunting.
To prepare powdered guarana, only the seeds of ripe fruits were used. The seeds were placed in water to more easily eliminate the outer tegument and extract the epicarp. After cleaning, the seeds were toasted over a low heat (on the same day as the harvest) and crushed. Water was added to the powdered seeds to obtain a smooth paste: the natives made loaves to dry in the sun, smoke, grate and eat when needed! Some Latin American tribes mixed guarana seeds (powdered) with flour: even today, in Venezuela, natural remedies are prepared with guarana seeds and cassava flour.
Properties of Guarana
Guarana has always been considered by Native Americans as an elixir of long life. It was widely used in all tribes and its popularity has ancient roots.
The therapeutic properties as well as the effects of guarana on our organism have not been highlighted by scientific studies: it is supposed the presence of still unknown substances that exert an effect on our nervous system; from the research carried out, it would be neuroactive substances in millesimal presence that carry out an action at neurological level with a marked action towards excitability. The collateral effects are evidence of the presence of stimulating and neuroactive substances.
Guarana is used today, as by the Indians , as an energizing, stimulating and appetite suppressant substance: guarana is said to be effective against the feeling of hunger, acting as an adjuvant for weight loss. Thanks to its stimulating effects, guarana is said to be effective against constipation problems and also helps improve memory, stabilize mood in low-toned subjects and confer greater alertness and attention span.
In areas where the Guarana plant grows spontaneously, extracts of the seed are considered among the best elixirs of long life: according to the beliefs of indigenous peoples, guarana would have the property of keeping the arteries clean and toned and would counteract the production of hormones responsible for the depression typical of old age.
Guarana, contraindications and side effects
Among the most common side effects are neurological stimuli such as agitation, nervousness, insomnia, hyperexcitability… Among the contraindications : guarana is not recommended for those who suffer from various types of arrhythmias because it can worsen the symptoms, high blood pressure, anxiety and in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Before use, keep in mind that stimulants can cause circulatory problems, even serious ones, in the most sensitive subjects and with a certain circulatory susceptibility.
Not recommended for use during pregnancy and in children. Guarana is also contraindicated during breastfeeding. If you are allergic or intolerant to caffeine or stimulants, avoid taking it. A high dosage of guarana can cause anxiety, sleep disturbances, diarrhea, nervousness and stomach pain.
Uses of Guarana
Guarana can be used in the production of natural supplements and energy drinks aimed in particular at athletes and students who wish to increase their state of alertness and concentration .
If you want to buy it in its natural form, you can find it in herbalist’s shops or in shops that sell natural products in the form of syrups, herbal extracts, pills, capsules or powder.
How to take Guarana
To enjoy the supposed benefits and properties of guarana , it is preferable to take it regularly for a certain period of time. Regarding the dosage, it is advisable to dissolve the equivalent in powder of a teaspoon of coffee in a glass of water to drink in the morning a few minutes before breakfast.
WARNING: Its intake could interfere with some drugs, increasing or decreasing their effects, therefore it is always mandatory to consult a doctor.
