| Guarana is naturally occurring plant that is found in the | | | | pounds. The researchers determined the guarana to |
| Amazon rain forest, primarily in Brazil and Venezuela. | | | | be beneficial in weight loss regimens. Some studies |
| It is a shrub type plant that has red fruit with small | | | | have even shown that the use of guarana can reduce |
| black seeds in it. These seeds are the | | | | cellulite. |
| “secret” of this plant. The guarana seed is rich | | | | People have considered guarana as a natural medicine |
| in the caffeine chemical guaranine and other natural | | | | for the bowel. The people of the Amazon have |
| substances. It is these seeds that are used for | | | | been using this for years. Guarana was commonly |
| guarana extract, whether it is in the form of a | | | | used to help “move the bowel.” It can also be |
| supplement, energy drink, or tea. There are many | | | | used for most complaints of the bowel. It can reduce |
| uses for guarana such as energy supplementation, diet | | | | gas and cure diarrhea. |
| purposes, cognitive improvements and more. | | | | There have been studies that have shown guarana to |
| Guarana is a type of caffeine. A single serving of | | | | cause cognitive improvements (Journal of |
| guarana can have up to 350mg of caffeine. A | | | | Psychopharmacology, 2007 Jan;21(1)65-70). It was |
| guarana seed has about three times more caffeine | | | | shown to improve memory, alert and content mood |
| than a coffee bean does. (A cup of coffee only has | | | | ratings. The studied said this could not be attributed |
| between 65-130mg of caffeine.) It also has many | | | | to caffeine alone. Guarana is good for enhancing |
| more benefits than coffee. It has been shown to | | | | your memory! It has also been shown to make you |
| naturally boost energy! These days, we can all use a | | | | more alert. So, why not take a dose of guarana |
| little extra energy in our busy lives. Unlike coffee, the | | | | before your next big exam? A study was also done |
| caffeine in guarana is released over time to give you a | | | | that showed guarana to have antidepressant like |
| continuous stream of energy. It can be good for | | | | effects on rats (Phytotherapy Research 2007 |
| those who work the night shift. Guarana can help | | | | June:21(6):531-5). This leads to the idea that guarana |
| you stay up, awake, and alert through those long | | | | not only improves your mood, but over long term |
| nights. Some even suggest that guarana is a natural | | | | administration, it can actually work as an |
| aphrodisiac, which could mesh quite well with the | | | | anti-depressant. |
| energy boost. | | | | In the United States guarana is classified as GRAS, |
| Guarana has also been show to increase your | | | | “Generally Recognized as Safe” by the FDA. |
| metabolism, which would help in the fat burning | | | | It can, however, have some side effects. It has side |
| process. It is the caffeine in guarana that helps to | | | | effects similar to those experienced from caffeinated |
| boost the metabolism. Your metabolism controls the | | | | products such as insomnia, urinary frequency, trembling |
| fat burning cells. When your metabolism is working | | | | and anxiety. Women who are pregnant or nursing |
| harder the body can more easily burn a larger amount | | | | should avoid the use of guarana. Those with heart |
| of fat. It has been used to suppress your appetite | | | | conditions or high blood pressure should not take |
| and cause you to not feel hungry. This is very helpful | | | | guarana. Because of the high doses caffeine in |
| when it comes to weight loss and dieting. A study | | | | guarana, those with caffeine sensitivities should not |
| was done on 44 overweight patients who took a | | | | take guarana. Guarana has been shown to also |
| combination of yerba mate, guarana and damiana | | | | reduce clotting in blood, so those who take products |
| (Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2001 | | | | that thin the blood should not take guarana. As |
| June:14(3):243-50). Over a 45 day period the patients | | | | always, consult your doctor before adding any |
| reduced their body weight by approximately 11 | | | | supplements to your daily regimen. |