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Facts & Fiction
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Guarana contains a high amount of guaranine, a chemical
substance with the same characteristics as caffeine. This makes Guarana a stimulant
similar to coffee, which means that it:
- quickens perceptions
- delays sleep
- helps with endurance based activities
- can help to recover from a hangover
- impairs the appetite
- will lead to more frequent visits to the toilet
- causes a higher blood pressure and an increased heart rate
- can make you feel jittery and may prevent sleep at all.
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Guaranine |
Guarana is not:
- a 'miracle medicine'
- a dangerous drug
- an easy way to lose weight
- a vitamin
- a food supplement
Not proven by scientific research, but some users state that:
- Guarana is a 'Smart Drug'
- Guarana is an aphrodisiac
- their health improved thanks to guarana
Dangers:
- Theoretically, it is possible to overdose on caffeine or guarana. The fatal dose has
been estimated at 10 grams of pure caffeine / guaranine (taken at once!). Guarana seeds
contain maximal 10% caffeine, so when you would swallow at least 100 grams guarana seeds
at once, things start to look ugly. Our advice: don't even think about it.
To put all of this in perspective: the average cup of coffee contains 65-130 milligrams of
caffeine; some very strong guarana-based syrups can contain up to 350 milligrams.
Look at our caffeine chart for more info.
- People with cardiac problems or a high blood pressure should avoid Guarana (and smoking
or drinking coffee, for that matter) When in doubt - consult your doctor.
- As with all stimulants, dependency may occur.
Chemical composition of Guarana seeds:
Vegetable fiber: 49.125 %
Reddish resin: 8.800 %
Starch: 8.350 %
Water: 7.650 %
Pectin, malic acid, mucilage, dextrin, salts: 7.470 %
Guarana-tannic acid: 5.902 %
Caffeine: 5.388 %
Yellowish steady oil: 2.950 %
Pyro-guarana acid: 2.750 %
Reddish colorant: 1.520 %
Amorphous substances: 0.606 %
Saponin: 0.060 % |