Guarana

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Guarana / Paulinia cupana / is an evergreen creeping plant that bears small red fruits, giving the body and mind energy. This plant is found in the Amazon jungle in South America, but is most common in Brazil. The plant is characterized by huge leaves and beautiful flower bouquets.

In recent years, guarana has aroused great interest around the world. This interest is provoked by red fruits, which are the size of coffee beans. Each fruit contains a seed that very much resembles an eye before it is completely peeled, and after peeling it begins to look like a hazelnut.

History of guarana

The history of guarana is very long, lost somewhere in the myths of the culture of the Guarani and Tupi tribes that inhabited the jungles of the Amazon. According to legend, one of the local deities killed a child much loved by his tribe.

Another deity, who was better attuned to the long-extinct tribe, planted the eyes of the slain child, one eye in the village and the other in the jungle. Thus appeared the cultivated and wild form of guarana. The Indians dried the guarana seeds and mixed them with flour and water to obtain a consistency resembling pasta dough and put the mixture to dry in special molds.

The world learned about guarana thanks to Dr. Luis Pereira Barrett from Rio de Janeiro. At the beginning of the 20th century, he built a factory in which the world's first medicinal drink began to be produced from guarana extract, and after about 15 years, Antarctic Guarana champagne appeared. Nowadays, guarana successfully competes with Coca-Cola.

Composition of guarana

Each guarana seed contains up to five times more caffeine than a coffee bean of the same size. For comparison, the caffeine in coffee is 2%, while in guarantine it reached 6-7%. Guarana seeds and extract are very rich in xanthites, including theophylline, caffeine and theobromine. Guarana is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids.

Guarana also contains resin, protein, tannin, fat, starch, amino acids, guanine and adenine, calcium, sodium, magnesium and vitamin B1. The tannins contained in guarana are also found in some types of wine, and also give a very pleasant woody aroma to the drink.

Application of guarana

Guarana can be found in the form of supplements, is part of various energy drinks. Based on the extract of guarana candy, chocolate, tea, toothpaste and a number of food additives are produced. Guarana is also used as a natural insecticide because it protects plants from various pests and insects.

Benefits of guarana

It's considered that guarana is the most natural source of energy, we can accept it as a kind of charger for humans. Guarana is very suitable for nourishing the brain.

The products with guarana provide energy needed for processes in the body. Guarana improves memory, has a complete toning on the body and mind, helps to overcome fatigue and tiredness. In addition, it speeds up blood circulation and reduces the risk of lung disease.

Guarana stimulates lipolysis - the process of burning fat. Therefore, it is ideal for people who follow a diet and exercise actively. The extract of guarana does not irritate the stomach and is very easily tolerated by the body. The process of assimilation of substances in guarana is gradual.

After taking products with guarana for a long time you do not feel tired and tired, in addition, the heart does not strain. A big advantage of guarana over coffee is that its consumption does not show heart palpitations, which is very common when drinking coffee. There is a claim that it has not yet been fully proven that guarana acts as a natural aphrodisiac.

Guarana has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system, improving circulation. Helps reduce headaches, severe migraines and premenstrual pain. The antioxidants and flavonoids in guarana slow down the aging process in cells. The active substances in guarana improve kidney circulation.

Daily dose of guarana

Despite its countless qualities, guarana should not be taken in too large quantities. The designated safe dose varies in different countries around the world, so it is taken from 150 to 450 mg per day.

In addition, in its pure form, guarana extract should be taken very carefully because it can increase the burning of personal energy. Guarana should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. It should not be consumed simultaneously with anesthetics and antidepressants. It is also not recommended when taking products, supplements or medications that also contain caffeine.