Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a South American source of caffeine in the form of a vining plant with large leaves and clusters of white flowers.
After flowering, it produces red fruits with seeds that are black with white coverings when the fruit splits open, resembling eyeballs to some people.
In fact, the name Guarana comes from a Guarani word with origins meaning “fruit like eyes of the people”.
With a seeds resembling human eyes, Guarana holds symbolic connection to spiritual awareness & protection.
Local people make a herbal tea made from a powder of the dried seeds, a powder kneaded into a dough make guarana bread, and a paste from the seeds is mixed with sugar and used in beverages and candy and referred to as ‘Brazilian chocolate’.
Guarana is a natural source of caffeine, as well as other xanthine alkaloids such as theophylline and theobromine. It also contains natural phenols such as (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin. Guarana is considered GRAS in the US for use in foods.
The global guarana market is experiencing steady growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for natural energy products.
Guarana has been used as a traditional medicine by Amazonian tribes for its stimulant and astringent nature, for short term energy, mild depression, pain, migraines and headaches, as well as diarrhea.
Clinical studies have found beneficial results for guarana in different conditions, including obesity, athletic performance, cognitive function, anxiety, chemotherapy-related fatigue and cancer-related anorexia.
Other health benefits guarana offers are for cardiovascular health, for type 2 diabetes, digestive, and stimulation of the urinary system.
Interestingly, in clinical studies Guarana has been found to reduce obesity, insulin resistance, and adipokine dysregulation induced by a standard Western diet through activation of brown adipose tissue. Additionally, it has been shown to have modulatory effects on adipogenesis through altering genes and miRNAs.
Sadly, there is concern for widespread adulteration with the spiking of caffeine to pass overly simple quality specs.
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**This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician.
The Eyes of the World
