Dorothy FarrarGuarana (Heilpflanze)
The guarana plant is native to South America and has always been consumed by humans for its stimulating effect. Guarana is now available worldwide and even competes with coffee beans due to its high caffeine content.
Definition and Occurrence
Guarana is a plant that forms tendrils and can climb like a liana. It is native to the Amazon region and has deciduous leaves as well as flowers and capsule fruits. The fruit is orange to red and contains seeds. The Indians of the Amazon region have always used Guarana. To do this, they grind the seeds of the guarana fruit into a light brown powder, which is drunk in water and sweetened with honey.
The name comes from the Portuguese language and indicates the eye-like appearance of the ripe fruit. Snow-white flesh is hidden under the bright red skin. The actual guarana powder is obtained from the seeds of the plant, which rather resemble small, dark chestnuts. When the seeds burst from the fruit, the eye-like shape emerges, which has given rise to numerous legends among indigenous peoples.
The plant belongs to the soap tree family and reaches heights of up to 12 metres. It has large, green leaves and fruits that grow in dense clusters. The guarana plant is native to the Amazon and can be found mainly in the Brazilian part. Bees of the genus Melipona and Apis are required for reproduction by cross-pollination. Birds help spread the delicate seeds. Guarana plants need a tropical or subtropical climate with high humidity for successful germination.
Originally, the seeds of the fruit were ground and brewed with hot water and drunk as a tea. However, the taste is quite bitter and so the beverage industry has come up with some ideas to offer the stimulating effect of guarana in a delicious drink. Guarana is particularly suitable for energy drinks and there are a large number of corresponding creations available. Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages and confectionery can also be found less frequently.
ingredients and effects
Guarana has the ingredients tannins and proanthocyanidins, theophylline and caffeine, theobromine and catechin, epicatechin in addition to starch and water as well as minerals and saponins. For this reason, Guarana was traditionally and still used today as a medicine.
In the event of a drop in performance and physical weakness, Guarana can increase performance and stamina. Guarana has also been used to reduce fever. New studies in the USA have shown that guarana can promote healing in various types of cancer.
It is assumed that theophylline is responsible for this effect. So far, however, the suspicion has not been confirmed. Guarana has an invigorating effect like coffee or tea.
However, it does not put a strain on the stomach or heart and circulatory system. Guarana is better tolerated than caffeine and the high proportion of fiber and dietary fiber enables the caffeine to be released in gentle doses through the intestinal mucosa.
The guarana powder is characterized by a very high caffeine content . With 4-8%, the seeds even contain twice as much caffeine as the coffee bean. However, the effect is only comparable to a limited extent, which can be attributed to the substance tannin, among other things. Tannin ensures a slower absorption of the caffeine and thus a smooth and longer-lasting effect.
dosage
Depending on the dose and preparation, the duration of action is between 4 and 7 hours. Similar to the enjoyment of coffee, consumers report increased motivation and the ability to concentrate. However, restlessness and nervousness are less common . People who are sensitive to caffeine from coffee or soft drinks have a gentler, but equally effective alternative thanks to Guarana.
However, it is important to note that long-term side effects are the same as those of drinking coffee. There is also the risk of overdosing, since the effect increases very slowly and could be perceived as too weak. So it should be started with a low dose. Pure guarana in powder form is ideal for this. Half a teaspoon, around 2g, is a suitable dose for initial testing. Since the duration of action is relatively long, refilling is not recommended. Only when the effect can be better assessed is a higher dose of up to one teaspoon (4g) advisable. This can then be taken throughout the day until the afternoon at the latest.
Be careful with pre-mixed drinks, especially energy drinks. The amount of caffeine can vary greatly and is sometimes not clearly determinable for the end user. If both guarana and caffeine are listed in the ingredients, one can assume that there is more caffeine in addition to the caffeine from the guarana.
What does guarana help against?
- increased motivation
- increased ability to concentrate
importance to health
Guarana not only has a short-term stimulating effect, it also has many long-term positive effects on health. When the high caffeine content is taken into account, guarana can be considered healthy for humans. The phyto-nutrients contained in Guarana products are plentiful and generally very beneficial to health. Whether for the cardiovascular system , stomach and intestines or the energy metabolism. Phyto-nutrients are essential and many people are undersupplied.
Guarana is also a particularly popular weight-loss aid. Guarana has been shown to have an appetite suppressant effect, even more so than other caffeinated plants. A long-lasting effect is important in order not to cause even more appetite afterwards. Laboratory studies on mice have also shown that guarana in combination with linoleic acid accelerates the burning of fat.
Guarana can also serve as a suitable alternative to medication for people with constipation. The digestive effect is gentle enough for long-term use. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks are less suitable and can make the problem worse over time. In individual cases, guarana is also used against diarrhea, urinary tract infections, nausea and headaches.
Anti- inflammatory substances are held responsible for this, but there is a lack of scientific evidence. In moderate use and with the appropriate background knowledge, Guarana can be classified as very harmless or health-promoting. In any case, the pure powder form is preferable in order to be able to exploit the numerous benefits of guarana without any undesirable side effects.
risks and side effects
Guarana reduces both hunger and thirst. However, this also creates the risk of dehydration in athletes. The natural caffeine in the Amazon plant is released into the body slowly and increases endurance.
For this reason, anyone who does a vigorous workout for a long time and does not drink anything is in danger. Possible side effects are also the usual nervous phenomena that can also be noticed with conventional caffeine. Guarana can also cause sleep disorders in sensitive people.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.