Guarana for athletes: benefits of intake, description, review of dietary supplements

Guarana is extracted from the berries of a vine native to Brazil and Venezuela. Numerous studies (example) have shown that the effect of taking it is many times greater than the effect of caffeine in burning excess fat and producing additional energy. Today it is found in many sports nutrition products and energy drinks.

What is guarana

Today we know about guarana thanks to the cunning inhabitants of the Amazon basin. Why do you think they, like wind-up toys, jump around the fire and easily catch up with wild animals on their own two feet?

The secret of their energy and constantly high spirits is guarana. Savages make tea from the plant and drink it to become more resilient and strong.

Guarana is an evergreen climbing vine of the Sapindaceae family. It can reach ten meters in height. Its fruits are valuable - red boxes about 8 cm long. As they ripen, they crack.

As a result, a dark brown or black seed appears, resembling a coffee bean. If you carefully examine the opened fruit, it will resemble a human eye. Yes, yes, the spectacle is unique and very strange.

Since guarana contains a large amount of pure caffeine, it is not afraid of bacteria, fungi, and various pathogens. The plant is tenacious, like a weed.

To obtain a natural energy drink, the pulp is removed from a ripe fruit and the seeds are extracted. Afterwards they are washed, dried (if necessary, fried) and ground into powder. It is used as a miracle tea by local tribes.

Top 5 manufacturers of sports nutrition with guarana

1. Drink with pure guarana. Yogi Tea, Guarana Liquid (POWER SYSTEM), Energy Storm Guarana (MAXLER), Super Guarana (SCITEC NUTRITION) are examples of such products.
2. Fat burners. Animal Cuts (UNIVERSAL NUTRITION) – thermogenic fat-burning complex with L-carnitine.
3. Pre-workouts. Trac Extreme-NO, NO Starter (VP Lab), Animal Pump (UNIVERSAL NUTRITION) are exemplary pre-workout complexes that provide vigor and motivation.

Call to get more information - what it is, what the benefits and harms of guarana are for athletes, how much to take for sports and ordinary activities.

Nutritional value and composition of guarana

It would be strange if guarana was rich only in caffeine. It contains a huge number of valuable compounds:

• guaranine;
• theobromine;
• zinc;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• sodium;
• essential oils;
• polyphenols;
• various tanning compounds;
• theophylline;
• xanthine alkaloids;
• amides;
• vitamins E, A, group B;
• a nicotinic acid.

The stimulating effect of guarana is approximately 5 times stronger than caffeine. But the paradox is that it is less likely to cause heart palpitations.

In Brazil, medicines are made from the plant that relieve:

• nervous experiences;
• muscle pain;
• migraine;
• painful spasms;
• increased fatigue;
• symptoms of alcohol intoxication.

Guarana-based medications also help with high blood cholesterol levels.

Nutrient content in 100 grams of guarana:

Guarana, coffee and green tea

There are many similarities between guarana, coffee and green tea, three popular ingredients used for their health-promoting properties and energizing effects.

All three are rich in caffeine and antioxidants. Both of these are associated with a number of potential health benefits. Additionally, they are all commonly consumed to help enhance weight loss, maximize alertness, and help fight fatigue.

Coffee and green tea can be included in your diet. But guarana is usually found in supplement form.

In terms of caffeine content, guarana extract is significantly higher in caffeine than coffee. Some studies show that the seeds contain four to six times more caffeine than coffee beans (). Green tea contains the least caffeine of all.

Effect of guarana on the body

The unique stimulating properties of guarana allow it to be actively used in the production of sports nutrition. Stacks containing the component increase physical endurance, provide a lot of energy and help increase the duration of sports training.

Since guaranine is broken down and absorbed slowly, it practically does not irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach. At the same time, it suppresses appetite and helps in the process of weight loss. After using guarana, pronounced stimulation persists for about 5-6 hours.

It is important to understand that the caffeine present in the plant is different from that obtained from the coffee beans. It does not lead to tachycardia and overexcitation. At the same time, it enhances fluid excretion, activates lipolysis and normalizes gastric secretion.

Now let’s dwell in more detail on the topic of the effects of guarana on the human body:

• Promotes weight loss. The component activates the process of lipolysis and forces the body to actively consume fat reserves. Also removes toxins and excess fluid. If you take guarana as a course and train, you can lose about 5 kg of excess weight in a month.
• Increases sexual desire. Guaranine relaxes the corpora cavernosa and works like a cool aphrodisiac.
• Protects blood vessels from the formation of cholesterol plaques. And all because it helps remove toxins and lower the level of bad cholesterol.
• Improves the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Tannins make the walls of the stomach and intestines more elastic and help relieve inflammation.
• Reduces the frequency of migraine attacks. At the same time, it copes with headaches of varying intensity.
• Improves cognitive functions. With the help of guarana you can become wiser. And for this you don’t have to read abstruse encyclopedias - you just need to drink tea made from crushed seeds. It improves concentration, focus, strengthens memory. In terms of its effect on the brain, guarana is even more preferable than ginseng.
• Fights depression. The herbal component relieves constant fatigue and makes it easier to cope with high irritability.
• Removes wrinkles. During experiments, it was proven that the combination of guarana with glycerin and creatine allows you to achieve good cosmetic results. The skin in the cheek area and around the eyes is especially effectively smoothed and strengthened.
• Cures exhaustion. If you take 50 mg of guarana twice a day, your energy levels increase. The drug was tested on people who had undergone chemotherapy. At the same time, the supplement normalizes sleep.
• Gives a sedative effect. The recommended sedative dose, established in experimental studies, is from 8 to 16 mg/kg body weight.
• Gives great antioxidant protection. The preparation contains tannins, caffeine, saponins, catechins and theobromine. Antioxidants fight free radicals and block oxidative damage to cells.
• Improves intestinal function. For a very long time, guarana was used only as a remedy to combat constipation and diarrhea. It is indicated for all digestive disorders. Caffeine stimulates contractions of the digestive tract, which is valuable for constipation, and tanning components prevent the excretion of excess fluid, which is important for diarrhea.
• Strengthens the heart. Guarana works in many ways. Firstly, it reduces the risk of blood clots. Thus, it helps to avoid heart attack, stroke, and reduce the likelihood of heart attacks. Secondly, it reduces the oxidation of cholesterol by low-density lipoproteins and prevents plaque from forming in the arteries. Due to this, atherosclerosis is excluded.
• Reduces the growth rate of cancerous tumors. In a study involving animals, it was proven that injection of a solution into the muscle reduced the proliferation of liver cancer by 58% and increased the death of cancer cells by almost five times. Guarana is especially helpful in fighting breast and colon cancer.

History of guarana as a useful plant

Guarana was domesticated in the forests between lower Tapaio and lower Madeira in the Brazilian Amazon.

It is unclear which indigenous group domesticated the guarana, but the Satere-Maué, who live along the Mauz River, grow it widely and have included the plant in their mythology.

The myth of Satere-Mauya tells how guarana arose from the eye of a murdered boy. Indeed, the fruit resembles a human eye when ripe, with the red skin and lower white mesocarp splitting open to reveal a black, iris-like seed.

Guarana has long been valued for its energizing and healing properties. For example, at the end of the 17th, it was noted that Europeans valued it like gold, because the drink gave them a lot of strength and increased endurance. It was also used to reduce fevers and cure headaches, and served as a powerful diuretic.

During the colonial period, the plant was sold variously as a fortifier, stimulant, tonic, antidote to fever, prophylactic against hardening of the arteries, and treatment for migraines.

Guarana was considered particularly effective in treating diarrhea and dysentery. But as with any product, excess can cause problems.

More than two centuries ago, Brazilian judge Francisco Xavier Ribeiro de Sampaio warned that excessive consumption of guarana could lead to insomnia and even impotence.

In the mid-18th century, while visiting Santarim along the middle Amazon, the fourth bishop of Belem, Dom João de São José de Queiroz da Silveira, praised guarana but warned that excessive consumption could lead to insomnia or dizziness

Why is guarana included in sports nutrition?

Everything is simple here. Guarana powder is added to sports nutrition so that it:

• increased blood pressure slightly;
• accelerated metabolic processes;
• invigorated;
• helped focus;
• minimized pain;
• increased heart rate;
• suppressed appetite;
• oxidized fats and accelerated fat burning;
• increased endurance.

Gurana is comparable to a good energy drink. Considering that it is completely of plant origin and works more gently than caffeine, then it has no price on market day.

Since guarana has analgesic properties, it is often used in sports medicine. It not only reduces pain from injuries, sprains and sprains, but also accelerates the removal of lactic acid from muscle tissue and reduces discomfort when performing complex sports exercises.

Effect of guarana

Guaranine is similar in properties and effects on the body to caffeine. The main difference between the two drugs for athletes is that guaranine is absorbed by the athlete’s body much longer than caffeine (about 2-3 hours). This allows you to use it before prolonged physical activity. Main effect of use:

• increased blood pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• significant acceleration of metabolic processes;
• increased endurance;
• stimulation of the central nervous system, thereby improving the general condition of the body;
• adrenaline synthesis;
• obtaining good spirits and energy;
• increased bioelectrical brain activity.

All effects last for 2-3 hours. At this time, the athlete has increased performance and endurance to physical activity.

Who should take guarana

It is clear that there is no point in drinking guarana as a source of vitamins, although they are present in it. There are more suitable preparations for this - vitamin-mineral complexes. So who needs this supplement and why? People who want to be at the peak of activity cannot do without it.

Guarana helps:

• train intensively and not groan from muscle pain;
• be resilient and cheerful;
• strengthen memory;
• for sexual disorders;
• focus;
• achieve your goals;
• calm down when stressed;
• normalize the emotional background;
• for arthritis, dysentery, depression;
• recover quickly from injuries and surgeries;
• with increased appetite.

It makes it much easier to play sports and cope with intellectual stress. It is especially useful for people who are preparing for sports competitions and performances. After all, a heavy burden falls on their shoulders to show themselves as the coolest.

Potential Harm of Guarana

Low doses of guarana are generally safe and have minimal risk of side effects. Scientists have found that it has low toxicity even with regular use ().

However, due to its caffeine content, it is extremely important to keep your consumption in moderation. Not only is caffeine highly addictive, but it can also have negative health effects. It can even lead to a caffeine overdose if consumed in large quantities.

Some of the most common side effects associated with guarana include symptoms such as:

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Digestive problems
• Arrhythmia
• Headache
• Nausea

If you notice these or any other side effects after consuming guarana, consider reducing your dosage or stopping use altogether.

Pregnant women should limit or avoid products containing guarana. Increased caffeine consumption may be associated with a higher risk of birth defects and preterm birth ().

Additionally, guarana is often used as an additive in unhealthy drinks. These include energy drinks or alcoholic products. Drinks that are often filled with unhealthy sugar and extra ingredients. These products essentially negate any health benefits of guarana. They may cause more harm than good from guarana when it comes to your health.

Interaction with other drugs

Guarana stimulates intense and long-term work in the gym. It oxidizes fats and helps in weight loss. If you combine it with fat burners, the effect will be simply bomb. However, remember that the compound has a mild diuretic effect. Therefore, there is no need to add additional diuretics. It is better to combine pure guarana with thermogenics. Then you can lose weight quickly.

The plant extract can be combined with aspirin and ephedra. Such fat burners are TOP because of their power. They increase energy costs, reduce appetite and are highly stimulating. True, they can give a lot of side effects, so it is not recommended to swallow them left and right - everything in moderation and carefully.

Guarana combines well with other types of sports nutrition:

• BCAAs;
• protein mixtures;
• vitamin and mineral compositions;
• pre-workouts.

As for the latter, it is important to ensure that there is no guarana in the pre-workout stack initially, since the total dose may be too large.

You should not take guarana or any products made on its basis if you need to drink at the same time:

• iron supplements;
• "Antabuse";
• oral contraceptive pills;
• "Adenosine";
• antibacterial agents belonging to the category of fluoroquinols;
• "Neosynephrine";
• "Tagamet".

It is prohibited to drink any caffeine-containing drinks during the guarana course!

Release form and storage conditions

Guarana supplements available on the market can be found in the form of tablets, tea, or liquid extract. The capsule form, however, is the most accessible and has a higher concentration of caffeine, which averages 250 - 500 mg, and the dose depends on the content of the extract.

Store at room temperature out of the reach of children.

Protect from moisture.

Guarana tablets

Side effects and contraindications

The main side effect that can develop among connoisseurs of the plant is addiction. Then all the properties of guarana remain behind the scenes, and you have to look for stronger analogues.

To avoid becoming a guarana sticker, you should not sit on it all the time. Courses 4-6 weeks long are optimal in duration.

An overdose of guarana leads to:

• nausea, vomiting;
• painful cramps;
• abnormal heart rhythm;
• abdominal pain;
• flickering of spots before the eyes, decreased visual acuity;
• ringing in my ears;
• redness of the skin;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• insomnia;
• overexcitement;
• involuntary muscle twitching;
• high irritability;
• frequent urination;
• tremors of the extremities (arms, legs tremble).

If these symptoms occur during the course, you will have to stop using guarana.

As for contraindications to the use of plant extract, they are as follows:

• pregnancy, breastfeeding period;
• mental disorders;
• age under 18 years;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
• severe cardiovascular diseases;
• hiatal hernia.

Elderly people suffering from atherosclerosis and hypertension should drink products containing guarana with caution.

Harm

As a mild and natural form of caffeine, the harm from guarana is fairly mild. However, if the dosage or frequency of administration is exceeded, it causes the same undesirable effects as caffeine:

• Cardiopalmus.
• High blood pressure.
• Tremor.
• Anxiety.
• Diuresis disorders.

Insomnia, nausea, vomiting, headaches, convulsions, arrhythmia continue the list of side effects.

With prolonged use, addiction may develop. With abrupt withdrawal of guarana, withdrawal syndrome is possible, which is manifested by anxiety, irritability, and migraines.

How to take guarana

Guarana is usually taken for two purposes:

Drinking guarana separately to lose weight is not recommended. It should not be used in isolation and before each workout - only on important days or when there is no strength at all, but you need to work.

Smart athletes use the extract occasionally or only before competition. Otherwise, addiction cannot be avoided.

The drug is sold in the form of:

• liquid solution;
• tablets;
• powder.

In principle, it does not matter which release form is used. The main thing is that there is no overdose. A single effective dose recommended for jocks and athletes is from 1500 to 2000 mg. You can take it once a day.

A good effect can be obtained from 1000 mg. Therefore, it is always better to start from the bottom (with approximately 500-800 mg) - this way you will be able to find your minimally effective and safe dose.

Some people drink 4000 mg of guarana before competitions. Well, what can I say? The owner is a gentleman. But with such experiments, the pulse can become frantic, as well as the pressure. Then there will be no time for sports.

It is important that the product is used 5-7 hours before bedtime. Otherwise you won't be able to sleep.

Dosage

The permissible daily dose of guarana is 4000 mg; it is not recommended to exceed it in order to avoid problems with heart rhythm. Each supplement has detailed instructions for use that must be followed. As a rule, the substance is taken no later than 30 minutes before the start of training.

Different manufacturers use different dosage options, which are also indicated on the packaging. It should be remembered that guarana contains a significant concentration of caffeine, so if tachycardia, shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches appear after taking the supplement, use should be stopped.

Let's sum it up

• Guarana will help you out if you have no strength, “tongue on the beard”, and the training has just begun. But the energy will be in full swing for three hours. Then it will go down. And it is possible that the loss of strength will become even more pronounced than before taking the stimulant.
• Using guarana, you seem to receive energy in advance. Then, in order to recover, you need to fully rest. Therefore, do not use the extract every time. The debt will become prohibitively large - you will have to pay with your health.
• Never exceed the dosage indicated in the instructions. 1500-2000 mg is your maximum. Avoid drinking guarana several times a day. In pre-workouts and fat burners, the compound is contained in much more modest doses, and this is normal - there it acts as an auxiliary component (so to speak, it sits on the bench, and does not immediately go to the battering ram).

Overall the connection is effective and efficient. Try and test.

Rules for taking the extract

It is more than obvious that they are taking a miracle drug:

• Immediately before the start of training - to raise spirits. It can be taken as a separate product or as part of a pre-workout.
• Every day, if the goal of taking it is fat burning.
• Professional athletes do not recommend taking the supplement every day on an ongoing basis, since first of all you overload the heart, central nervous system and blood vessels. Use the substance only when you feel powerless before the next load. It doesn’t matter in what form you are going to drink guarana: powder, pills or liquid, its composition is almost identical everywhere. Some doctors recommend taking the sports supplement with food, while others insist that a pure drug is better.

• Dosage instructions: a single (once daily) dose is 200-800 mg. active substance. Convenient, because the liquid substance is already sold unpacked in small flasks in the required quantities needed for one time.
• You can take a smaller amount, but a more or less noticeable effect will appear only if you use 150 mg each time, and preparations with a lower content of the active Amazonian plant are useless.
• The benefits of the powder supplement are revealed after you stir it into regular milk, juice or any other cool drink.
• The substance is not suitable for hot drinking. When processed with heat, all the beneficial properties of guarana disappear and it turns into “ordinary coffee.”
• Guarane-containing preparations are strongly not recommended for use in the evening, by pregnant women and children due to their excessive stimulating effect.
• Before important competitions, it is allowed to consume a little more extract at a time, but in this case you should consult your doctor.

Guarana has taken a significant place in the sports nutrition system due to its natural origin and the almost complete absence of side effects on the athlete’s body. The main principle is everything in moderation. Be sure to study the weight of pure plant seeds in the mixture; only with the correct dosage will you feel a surge of strength and a desire to move on.

What are the benefits of guarana: properties and effect

The main properties of guarana are due to its caffeine content - the same caffeine that coffee and tea contain. The plant also contains theophylline and theobromine. They are also present in coffee and tea. Theophylline and theobromine are stimulant substances of the central nervous system that have different effects on the body:

• increase metabolic rate;
• increase mental stability;
• reduce fatigue.

Theophylline and theobromine are isomers, i.e. substances that are similar in atomic composition, but differ in structure, as a result of which they have slightly different properties. These are precursors of caffeine, similar to it in their effect. The substances dilate blood vessels and stimulate the heartbeat, activating the nervous system.

To better understand the effects of caffeine, we recommend studying:

"How to Take Caffeine to Improve Athletic Performance and Lose Weight."

Composition and calorie content

As you know, of all the guarana bushes, people use exclusively seeds ground into powder. The mixture is then taken orally as a dietary supplement or added to cosmetics. The calorie content per 100 g is 25–26 units, and the BJU ratio is 0.1/0/6.5 g, respectively. The following compounds were found in the seeds:

• theobromine;
• guaranina;
• tannins;
• zinc;
• polyphenols;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• essential oils;
• manganese;
• antioxidants;
• vitamins A, E, B and PP;
• theophylline;
• amides;
• xanthine alkaloids.

The effect of the Amazon chestnut fruit is compared to coffee, but the duration of the fruit seeds is longer and has an effect on the stomach. If a person needs to mobilize his strength, then guarana will perfectly help him concentrate on the task and get an energy boost.

Guaranine molecules are similar in composition to caffeine, are absorbed gradually and gently, and do not irritate the stomach walls, compared to coffee beans. And the stimulating effect of the substance is much stronger than its analogue - it lasts about 6-7 hours - and not only provides a maximum surge of strength, but also fights excess weight.

Epicatechin and catechin belong to the group of powerful antioxidants, protect vascular walls and heart muscle from the harmful effects of free radicals, and effectively fight the signs of aging.

Vitamins A, E, B and PP are otherwise called “beauty substances”; they are necessary for the human body every day. Minerals, which include compounds of calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, perform functions related to metabolic processes, which is important when switching to a balanced diet.

The presence of tannic acids, which have mild antiseptic properties, allows you to stimulate the activity of both the brain and the nervous system.

Guarana in cosmetology

Amazon chestnut is rich in caffeine, which is why it is used as a powerful fat burner. The fruit is quite effective in the treatment of orange peel, because it helps to break down unaesthetic subcutaneous tubercles. Kakhetins in the composition help to significantly reduce puffiness in the form of dark circles and bruises under the eyes. Due to the ability to accelerate metabolic processes in subcutaneous fat, the level of excess fluid accumulation in tissues is reduced. The product has an exfoliating effect, further stimulating and toning the skin.

That is, in cosmetology the product will be needed during procedures:

• on lifting and toning of the integument;
• reducing the inflammatory process;
• eliminating dark circles;
• strengthening blood vessels.

To achieve maximum efficiency, you just need to follow simple instructions.

Anti-cellulite scrub

To prepare a home remedy you will need:

• Guarana powder – 3 tbsp.
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
• Natural coconut oil – 1/2 tsp.

To get the product, you just need to mix all the ingredients until smooth. After a shower, apply the mixture to the steamed skin using massage movements; you can use a special hard body brush. You should not be overzealous; your skin should tingle slightly. Massage for 5-7 minutes, rinse with cool water, apply moisturizing lotion or anti-cellulite cream.

Moisturizing facial mask

Ingredients:

• Blue clay – 2 tbsp.
• Guarana extract – 3-4 drops.
• Chamomile infusion – 3 tbsp.
• Lavender oil – 2-3 drops.

Mix all ingredients until smooth and mushy. Apply to a face cleansed of cosmetics - you can pre-wipe the skin with a cotton pad moistened with lotion or micellar water. Using massage movements, distribute the mask over the skin, including the neck, avoiding the sensitive area around the eyes. Leave for 7-10 minutes. If a feeling of tightness occurs, lightly moisten the mask with water using your fingertips or a spray bottle. Then rinse and apply moisturizer, repeat the procedure once a week.

Guarana for weight loss

Guarana has beneficial properties for weight loss and helps improve endurance during training. After taking the drug, drowsiness decreases, and the desire to actively engage in sports appears. The benefits of guarana for men and women for weight loss are very high.

To get the effect of taking it, it is recommended not to take the drug after 17:00; it is best to drink liquid 1 hour before training. The daily useful dose is from 3 to 5 mg.

Important! It is not recommended to use the powder with hot water, but you can dilute it with cool drinks, including milk.

Cost of guarana

The price of products containing the guarana plant depends on the type, volume and where the purchase was made. If you purchase goods through an online store, you will have to pay additionally for delivery to your place of residence. Today, most pharmacies in Moscow sell guarana in a wide range, so there shouldn’t be any problems purchasing it.

Guarana is a natural substance that, when used correctly, can help get rid of certain diseases, strengthen the immune system and the entire body, and simply significantly improve health. Guarana is very good for weight loss: it is one of the most effective natural remedies in the fight against excess weight. Guarana has a dual effect on the body, as it promotes the elimination of toxic substances and at the same time acts as a natural fat burner. During a diet, a person becomes overly irritable, but guarana helps to avoid this because it saturates the body with useful substances. In addition, guaranine helps reduce appetite and gives you a feeling of fullness for a long time.

Beneficial properties of guarana

General benefit

Guarana seeds can have a stimulating effect, the strength of which is approximately 5 times greater than that of natural coffee beans. But at the same time there is no overexcitation and rapid heartbeat.

Experts do not recommend guarana as a food additive, so it cannot be used as an independent medicine. But Brazilian hunters have long used the fruits of the plant in the preparation of medicines. Some recipes have survived to this day and help:

• with strong emotional shocks;
• frequent spasms and convulsions throughout the body;
• losing weight or gaining muscle mass;
• digestive disorders;
• poor memory and cognitive impairment;
• disorders in sexual life;
• headaches and migraines;
• desire to increase endurance and strengthen the immune system;
• desire to improve heart function and reduce cholesterol;
• severe hangovers.

Traditionally, guarana powder was used for severe fevers, as a powerful aphrodisiac and prevention against infections. The Indians who lived in Latin America were convinced that the fruits would cope with hunger, fatigue, arthritis and stomach upsets. The indigenous peoples of the Amazon valleys attribute lifting functions to the plant, which is why they call the chestnut the fruit of youth.

Exotic fruit is a natural source of energy. The substance obtained from plant fruits, guaranine, is chemically as close as possible to caffeine. After it enters the body, there is a strong “shake-up” of brain cells and stimulation of nerve endings. A person almost instantly experiences a surge of vigor and a desire to work.

It is important to know that guarana seeds contain a not too aggressive type of caffeine, but this will only mean an increase in stimulating properties. This type of substance penetrates cells gradually, but leads to overexcitation and addiction.

Guarana has a wide range of beneficial properties.

1. Increased brain power.
   Studies have found that eating guarana seeds affects memory. One experiment proved the positive effect of low doses of an exotic product on memory and attentiveness. In a study of another group of subjects, the effects of guarana seeds and ginseng were compared - the former significantly increased both productivity in performing complex tasks and the degree of concentration.
2. High antioxidant content.
   The benefits and harms of a fruit are determined by certain components. The fruits contain a fairly large amount of antioxidants, which include molecules of caffeine, tannins, saponin, theobromine and catechin. Antioxidants are useful because they actively fight free radicals, preventing the formation of new ones and the progression of harmful oxidative damage to cells. Some studies have shown that antioxidants even protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic ailments.
3. Preventing fatigue.
   Loaded with 6% caffeine, guarana fruits affect the functioning of certain brain neurotransmitters, resulting in increased energy levels and an influx of strength. Therefore, coffee and energy drinks are used by people to quickly regenerate strength after a hard day at work or emotional shock. One scientific study states that the fruit reduces the degree of mental fatigue.
4. Improving intestinal motility.
   Guarana was also used by Amazonian tribes as an effective natural remedy for gastrointestinal disorders - diarrhea or constipation. The fruits help soothe intestinal problems. Caffeine promotes proper absorption of food and its proper movement through the gastrointestinal tract. Stimulating the digestive tract prevents constipation. The tannin in guarana prevents the removal of excess fluid from the body - this helps eliminate the symptoms of diarrhea faster.
5. Beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels.
   Guarana seeds protect the cardiovascular system from thrombosis and reduce the likelihood of attacks and strokes. The oxidative processes of cholesterol and the progression of atherosclerosis are also reduced - the formation of arterial plaques does not occur with regular consumption of fruits.
6. Providing radiant skin.
   Exotic fruit is a great addition to any cosmetic procedure. This beneficial property is due to its high caffeine and antioxidant content. The skin is the first to be protected from harmful ultraviolet radiation, and therefore the photoaging process slows down and blood circulation increases noticeably. Cosmetics with guarana extract reduce sagging tissues and minimize expression wrinkles around the eyes.
7. Cancer prevention.
   According to preliminary scientific data, Amazon chestnut reduces the active growth and spread of certain cells that directly cause cancer in the liver, colon, and mammary glands. Guarana also activates the work of anti-cancer chemotherapy reagents.

For women

The beneficial properties of exotic fruits for women’s bodies lie in their effect on the condition of the skin. Due to the substances included in the composition, guarana seeds improve skin elasticity and prevent the premature appearance of fine wrinkles. This is possible due to improved blood supply.

Gurana also improves metabolic processes by an average of 8–10%, due to which, with regular use, the weight loss process is activated. Research has shown that the plant also suppresses those groups of genes, mainly in women, that are responsible for fat deposition.

For men

For representatives of the stronger sex, the fruit will be useful for problems with potency. The product is an aphrodisiac and vasodilator. Problems in intimate life can be solved by regular moderate use of drugs based on the Amazonian fruit.

During pregnancy

For women in an interesting situation, doctors recommend reducing the consumption of caffeine-containing products to 180–200 mg per day. Because of this, pregnant women should not eat exotic fruits. If a lady waiting for a replenishment notices a deterioration in her condition after eating an Amazon chestnut - her heart rate increases, anxiety or headaches appear, then it is necessary to reduce the amount or stop taking it altogether. Pregnant women who consume too much caffeine risk their baby's health, increasing the risk of birth defects and premature birth.

When breastfeeding

During lactation and breastfeeding a newborn, eating exotic guarana and its derivatives is strictly prohibited. Neglect of this instruction threatens the development of diseases of the nervous system in infants and has a bad effect on the general well-being of the woman.

Video:

what fruits can a nursing mother Expand

For children

Parents should be aware that guarana seeds contain approximately 5-6 times more pure caffeine than natural roasted coffee beans. That is, if a child eats Amazon chestnut, its components will negatively affect the nervous system - sleep will be disrupted, mood will change sharply, and a feeling of irritability and anxiety will appear. In this regard, doctors strongly advise excluding the fruit itself and its derivatives from the children's diet.

When losing weight

Amazon chestnut is necessary in the process of getting rid of extra pounds. When used correctly, a person will not feel hungry, which means overeating will be reduced. The product also helps to increase the level of heat production, which significantly increases the intensity of the rate of fat burning during physical activity by 10–12%.

Guarana speeds up metabolism and supplies the body with essential nutrients. This is how a person losing weight achieves their goal without harm to their health. Manufacturers, in combination with other nutritional supplements, use guarana seeds as raw materials for fat burners.

For diabetes

Just like for patients suffering from heart disease, epilepsy, insomnia, and insulin-dependent people, taking guarana fruits and their derivatives is permissible only after consulting a competent specialist.

Restrictions on the use of guarana

There are very few human studies available on guarana. In addition, guarana was often used in combination with other plant extracts or multivitamin and multi-mineral complexes. Therefore, additional clinical studies testing guarana alone are needed to confirm the preliminary results.

Little is known about the other components of guarana because its effects are often attributed solely to caffeine. It is difficult to assess the extent to which these components contribute to the full effect of the plant.

Plant extracts have complex dose-response relationships on their effects and body physiology, and it is possible that artificially higher doses of caffeine mask the effects of other active ingredients. In an unchanged formula, the components of guarana may act more synergistically. ()

Although guarana was initially marketed as an aphrodisiac to promote guarana consumption around the world, there are no clinical studies that support its effects as an aphrodisiac. Unless guarana is combined in preparations with other active ingredients, the plant's aphrodisiac effects are likely to be negligible . ()