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- Historical or traditional
use
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- The indigenous people of the Amazon rain forest used
crushed guaraná seed as a beverage and a medicine. Guaraná was said to treat diarrhea,
decrease fatigue, reduce hunger, and to help arthritis.1 It also has a history
of use in treating hangovers from alcohol abuse and headaches related to menstruation.
Guarana comes from the seeds of a South American shrub
– most of which originates in Brazil. Traditional uses of guarana by natives of the
Amazonian rain forest include crushed seeds added to foods and beverages to increase
alertness and reduce fatigue. As a dietary supplement, it’s no wonder that guarana is
an effective energy booster – as it contains about twice the caffeine found in coffee
beans (about 3-4% caffeine in guarana seeds compared to 1-2% for coffee beans).
Concentrated guarana extracts, however, can contain caffeine at levels of as much as
40-50%, with popular supplements delivering 50-200mg of caffeine per day (about the same
amount found in 1-2 cups of strong coffee). As with any caffeine-containing substance, too
much can lead to nervousness, tension and headaches.
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- Theory
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- The theory behind how guarana works is relatively
straightforward. The major active constituent is caffeine (sometimes called
“guaranine” to make you think it’s different in some way) and similar
alkaloids such as theobromine and theophylline (which are also found in coffee and tea).
Each of these compounds has well-known effects as nervous system stimulants. As such, they
may also have some effect on increasing metabolic rate, suppressing appetite and enhancing
both physical and mental performance.
The seeds of guarana are known to be rich in
xanthines (caffeine) and have been widely used as a “tonic” in many South
American countries – particularly Brazil. In studies which have determined the total
xanthine content of guarana powder, caffeine content typically averages 30-50% caffeine
(depending on the extract). Related compounds such as theobromine and theophylline are
found at levels of 1-3% and, like caffeine, can be detected in the urine for up to 9 days
following guarana intake
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- Scientific Support
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- Most of the scientific evidence on caffeine as a
general stimulant and an aid to exercise performance shows convincingly that caffeine is
effective. Consuming 3 to 6 mg of caffeine per kilogram (2.2 lbs) of body weight (about
350mg for an average sized man or 250mg for a woman) approximately 1 hour before exercise
improves endurance performance without raising urinary caffeine levels above the
International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) doping threshold. To reach that level,
you’d need to take in about 800 mg of caffeine, which is about the amount found in 8
cups of coffee or 18 cans of Coke.
As a weight loss aid, however, although caffeine may suppress appetite somewhat at high
levels, on its own it does not seem to be a very effective supplement for increasing
calorie expenditure (thermogenesis). When combined with other stimulant-type supplements
such as Ma Huang (Ephedra), however, it appears that caffeine can
“extend” the duration of action of Ephedra in suppressing appetite and
increasing caloric expenditure (although it may also increase the risk of adverse side
effects associated with Ephedra and caffeine). Research
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Product Recommendations |
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- Each
tablet contains 1200 mg G-power Energy Blend ( guarana (paullinia cupana
seed extract 200 mg of caffeine) Guarana (paullinia
cupana seed). Great
product to add to Vasopro for a Thermo Stack
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- Unidyne
- 130 Cap.
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- Compare
to Xenadrine & SAVE. Super Fat Loss
Catalyst. Clinical studies have shown that Unidyne's formula can increase fat loss dramatically, making it one of the
world's most effective natural weight loss supplements.
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