7 Amazing Health Benefits of Guarana

Tap to Read ➤ Reshma Jirage

Guarana is known to contain a rich amount of caffeine. It has amazing medicinal properties offering a number of health benefits such as weight loss, pain relief, stimulant and energy boosting. Guarana is loaded with antioxidants, which may help to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and aging.

What is Guarana?

Guarana is a caffeine-rich fruit found in countries like Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia in the central Amazon basin. A mature guarana fruit resembles a human eyeball, with a red outer case and white flesh inside with a black seed. The size of seeds is equal to coffee beans, with double the amount of caffeine.

Nutrition Facts

Along with caffeine, guarana contains antioxidants like saponins, tannins and catechins. The seeds contain polysaccharides, fats, cyanolipids, and choline. Its beans contain protein, starch, calcium, tannins and phosphorus. A guarana drink prepared from roasted seeds offers stimulant, anti-depressant, anti-aging and antibacterial effects.

Promotes Healthy Weight Loss

Guarana is found to be helpful in appetite suppression, promoting weight loss. Its rich caffeine content can boost metabolism rate, which in turn helps to burn more calories. That’s why, guarana extract is the main ingredient in many weight loss and health drinks.

Stimulant and Energy Booster

The bioactive compounds such as caffeine, alkaloids, tannins, epicatechins and catechins in guarana offer stimulant effects. It gives an instant energy boost and improves physical and cognitive performance. Therefore, guarana is used in various energy drinks and dietary supplements.

Manages Anxiety and Cognitive Disorders

Guarana extract can help to prevent degenerative disorders of the brain. It can prevent accumulation of amyloid plaques and protein glycation, remove reactive oxygen species, decrease oxidative stress and reduce acetylcholinesterase activity. This is helpful for treating cognitive disorders like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease.

Antibacterial Agent

One of the important bioactive ingredients in guarana is tannin, which is effective against several bacterial strains like Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Guarana can give protection against bacteria-induced hypersensitivity by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory compounds in your body.

Good for Skin and Scalp

Guarana, due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, is commonly used in various anti-aging lotions, creams, soaps and hair care products. Its rich caffeine content improves blood circulation in the skin, offering glowing and younger-looking skin. Additionally, guarana is a great remedy for shiny and dandruff-free hair.

Improves Heart Health

Being rich in antioxidants, guarana can lower the risk of heart disease. It improves blood circulation and prevents formation of blood clots. Additionally, guarana can decrease the oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, preventing plaque build-up in the arteries.

Anti-cancer Agent

Because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, guarana can suppress the growth of cancer cells. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, when given guarana extract, may get a relief from various chemotherapy-induced side effects such as fatigue, weight loss, anorexia and anxiety.