Guarana is a Brazilian plant, also known as Paullinia cupana, located in the Amazon area. It contains an impressive range of stimulants, such as caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. It also includes antioxidants, such as tannins, saponins, and catechins. Interestingly, we use 70% of guarana in soft drinks, with the remaining 30% turned into powder. Here are ten health benefits of guarana:
Rich in Antioxidants
Guarana has several antioxidant compounds with remarkable properties. Antioxidants are indispensable because they counterbalance other unfavorable molecules also known as free radicals. These molecules may interact with parts of an individual’s cells and possibly cause impairment linked to aging, heart disease, cancers and other diseases. Some studies have found that guarana’s antioxidant properties may also combat cancer cell growth and reduce heart disease risk and skin aging.
Can Reduce Fatigue and Improve Focus
Due to its properties, it is also an excellent source of caffeine, which aids in keeping your brain alert, thus maintaining focus and increasing your mental energy. Interestingly enough, its seeds contain four to six times more caffeine than coffee beans. Caffeine works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a compound that helps your brain relax. It binds to adenosine receptors, preventing them from being activated.Â
May Help You Learn Better
Research has shown that guarana may improve your ability to learn and memorize information. One study specifically examined the effects of different doses of guarana on mood and learning. From this study, researchers concluded that guarana improved test performance, and these individuals not only paid more attention to their tasks but also completed them faster. However, some also believed that other compounds in guarana, aside from caffeine, may be partially responsible for the results of the study.
May Promote Weight Loss
Guarana may have properties that help promote weight loss. This is because it is a rich source of caffeine, which may boost your metabolism anywhere from 3% to approximately 11% in a 12 hour period. An accelerated metabolism helps your body burn calories faster without any movement required; this means while it is already at rest, implying that it will burn even more calories whenever it is active. Studies have found that guarana may repress genes that encourage fat cell production by instead replacing them with genes that slow it down.Â
May Boost Heart Health
Guarana may reduce the risk of heart disease for two reasons; the first one is due to its antioxidant content and the second is its ability to decrease LDL. Guarana seems to succor blood flow, therefore it may prevent it from blood clots. Secondly, studies have shown that guarana may decrease the oxidation of what is considered the bad cholesterol or LDL. LDL is mainly responsible for the plaque build-up in your arteries. The results of the study show that adults who consume guarana may have up to 27% less oxidized LDL than other individuals of the same age who do not consume this fruit.
May Provide Pain Relief
People have known the health benefits of Guarana for a long time; Amazonian tribes initially used by it as a pain reliever. The pain-relieving properties of guarana are mostly due to its high caffeine content. Caffeine plays a big role in pain management, as it straps and blocks adenosine receptors (a class of G protein-coupled receptors). The way this works is that when caffeine attaches to these receptors, it can reduce sensations of pain.Â
May Improve Skin Appearance
Due to its powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, guarana is popular in the cosmetics industry as an ingredient in anti-aging creams, lotions, soaps, and hair products. Furthermore, its caffeine content assists blood flow to the skin. Studies indicate that these types of cosmetics may improve skin tightness and minimize wrinkles around your eyes.
Has Antibacterial Properties
Guarana contains many compounds that may destroy deadly bacteria. Among these the E. coli, which lives in the intestines. Although most E. coli bacteria are non dangerous, some can cause mild illnesses. Studies have also found that guarana can vanquish the growth of Streptococcus mutans, which is a bacteria that can cause dental plaques and tooth decay. It’s believed that the combination of caffeine and plant-based compounds like catechins or tannins is responsible for guarana’s antibacterial effects.
May Protect Against Age-Related Eye Disorders
It’s very usual for many individual’s eyesight to progressively decrease with age. Other factors that affect this are sunlight, a poor diet, and additional unhealthy habits such as specific lifestyle decisions. Some of these choices, such as smoking, can substantially affect your eyes over time thus increasing the risk of eye-related disorders. Guarana contains compounds that fight oxidative stress, a major risk factor for age-related eye disorders like macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.Â
Is Guarana 100% safe?
In really high doses, guarana may cause side effects due to its caffeine content, such as heart palpitations, insomnia, headaches, and shakiness, among others. Pregnant women are not recommended to have a high intake of guarana since the caffeine can help cross the placenta. Too much caffeine may cause growth abnormalities in children and aggravate the risk of miscarriage. Research has found that doses as of 75 mg or lower can furnish the health benefits linked to guarana.
