Guarana

STRENGTH: 1200 mg
FORM: 90 Tablets

Everybody is looking for more energy these days! We are all trying to squeeze every last drop of energy that we can get out of our bodies so we can, to be honest…get as much out of our day as is possible. The herb Guarana has been used in many parts of the world for hundreds of years as an energy tonic. The first record of the modern use of the herb Guarana dates back to the 1600’s, where it was discovered by a Jesuit missionary who had visited an area deep in the Amazon where the native Indians were taking it daily. The native tribes dried and roasted the seeds and mixed them into a paste with water, which was then used in the preparation of various types of foods, drinks and medicines. These Indians and the people who visited this area raved about the beverage’s ability to ward off headaches, relieve cramps and fevers, and act as an aphrodisiac. Pure guarana powder is an ideal herb to maintain stamina and ward off fatigue and tiredness. Pure guarana acts as a coolant and a stimulant to the central nervous system and metabolism. The fact that the herb helped to prevent malaria and dysentery was probably the main reason for its initial popularity that went far beyond the borders of the jungle. It is still consumed today for all of these reasons.

Guarana contains tetra methylxanthine, which is a compound that is almost identical to caffeine; it also contains fairly large amounts of other well known plant chemicals which include: Adenine, Caffeine, Catechutannic-acid, Choline, D-catechin, Guanine, Guaranine, Hypoxanthine, Mucilage, Saponin, Tannins, Theobromine, Theophylline, Timbonine and Xanthine. The fact that the Guarana seed is an ‘oily’ herb means that even as a ground powder it’s not readily water soluble and therefore not quickly absorbed by the body. Therefore the native caffeine that is found in the plant is essentially released slowly into the body over several hours. This ensures that the energy boost that is experienced from Guarana is not like that of coffee, which can be quite sudden and intense, but continues to escalate over hours. The tannic acid is astringent (constricts) and probably accounts for its use as a tonic. The saponin content may be partially responsible for its long term energizing effects which are similar to that of Ginseng. The theobromine and theophylline, two plant chemicals found in the herb, are the same chemicals that are found in chocolate! The theophylline is a stronger stimulant than even caffeine, but it is found in smaller amounts than caffeine. In reality, and based on its chemical profile, this herb contains several medicinal benefits, and is used today in many of the popular weight loss and energy products that are currently being sold throughout the market. If used wisely, it can assist the user in promoting health as well as their metabolism.

How Guarana stacks up to other products with regard to caffeine content:
Coffee - 50-350 milligrams per cup
Tea - 40-90 milligrams per cup
Cola drinks - 30-90 milligrams per cup
Cocoa or chocolate drinks - 40-80 milligrams per cup
Over the counter preparations - 10-100 milligrams

** Guarana contains as much as 120 -160 milligrams of caffeine when not spiked.

Cautions: All the same precautions/hazards associated with coffee apply to Guarana. Athletes need to be careful not to exceed the max dose allowed by the governing bodies for their sport. †

REFERENCES:

1. Galduroz, J. C. and E. A. Carlini (1996). "The effects of long-term administration of guarana on the cognition of normal, elderly volunteers." Rev Paul Med 114(1): 1073-8.
2. Andersen, T. and J. Fogh (2001). "Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients." J Hum Nutr Diet 14(3): 243-50.
3. Fetrow CW & Avila JR: Professional's Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicines. Springhouse Corporation, Springhouse, PA; 1999.