The Origins Of Guarana
Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a fruit, although the word is interchangeably used to refer to its seeds and to soft drinks where it is the active ingredient. The word guaraná comes from the Guaraní word guara-ná, which has its origins in the Sateré-Maué word for the plant, warana, that in Guarani means “fruit like the eyes of the people” or “eyes of the gods”. (1) If you see the fruit with the seed exposed, it looks like an eye – hence the name – and it is precisely the seed which is ground up into a powder and used as an additive and as a supplement.
The Unique Nutritional Profile Of Guarana
Each guarana seed contains roughly twice the amount of caffeine found in a coffee bean of equivalent weight. There’s about 2–8% caffeine in guarana seeds compared to about 1–3% for coffee beans. In addition, guarana seeds contain theobromine, theophylline, tannins, catechins and epicatechins. (1)
Is Guarana Good For Pre-Workout?
Given that it contains significantly more caffeine than coffee, it’s no surprise that guarana is a popular additive in energy drinks in Brazil and other countries in Latin America. Besides the caffeine, it also contains theobromine and theophylline, which have their own stimulant properties. One study done on humans combined vitamins with guarana and the results support guarana’s use as a performance enhancer. The guarana + vitamin combo group demonstrated that they had improved task performance in comparison to a placebo. This was measured by increased speed and accuracy of the tasks being performed. (2)
Can Guarana Help You Lose Weight?
Once again, caffeine plays a role in guarana’s usefulness as a fat burner but there are other compounds at work too. Several test tube studies have shown that guarana alters gene expression related to fat metabolism. Specifically, it is able to hinder fat cell production. The more scientific explanation from one of those studies concluded the following:
In summary, our data indicate that guarana has an anti-adipogenic potential due to its ability to modulate miRNAs and genes related to this process. (3)
Adipogenesis is the formation of adipocytes (fat cells) from stem cells so if something is anti-adipogenic, it means it stops or slows down this process.
What Should You Watch Out For When Buying Guarana?
Besides the obvious warning to be mindful of your caffeine intake, with guarana, you also need to be mindful of any additional ingredients in the guarana product you’re consuming. If you happen to see a soft drink that contains guarana in your local grocery store’s international food aisle section, then chances are that it’s probably loaded with sugar.
That’s not how you want to get your guarana.
Stick to pure guarana in either 100% powder form, or in a capsule format that doesn’t contain too many filler ingredients. Also, remember that guarana does contain some theobromine as well. If you are sensitive to it then it may not be the best performance enhancing fat burner for you. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of others on this page to choose from.
Some Of Our Favorite Guarana Choices
If you’re ready to elevate your workouts to the next level while shredding excess fat off your body in the process, then give the guarana supplements below a try. They have great reviews and they will definitely get you going.
Guarana That Will Make You Get Up And Go
The first is a great option to blend into smoothies. The other two are both supplements for convenience.
Guarana Seed Powder To Shred The Fat Off
Organic Guarana Seed Powder by Alovitox, 8oz
High In Energy Boosting Caffeine
Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free
Also Contains Theobromine
Tannins For Sustained Energy
Guarana Extract For Caffeinated Convenience
Guarana Extract by NusaPure, 300mg 200 Veggie Caps
Naturally Occurring Caffeine
GMO Free
Produced In A GMP Certified Facility
Exceptional Metabolic Booster
Guarana Extract Tablets For Sustained Energy
Source Naturals Guarana Energizer 900mg, 100 Tablets
Sustained Release, Natural Caffeine
Supports A Long Lasting Energy Boost
Convenient And Potent
Excellent Pre-Workout Choice
Guarana That Will
Shred The Fat Off Your Body
The 1st - a great option for smoothies
The 2nd - a guarana supplement
The 3rd - another guarana supplement
Guarana Seed Powder
To Shred The Fat Off
Organic Guarana Seed Powder by Alovitox, 8oz
High in Energy Boosting Caffeine
Raw, Vegan, Gluten Free
Also Contains Theobromine
Tannins For Sustained Energy
Guarana Extract
For Caffeinated Convenience
Guarana Extract by NusaPure, 300mg 200 Veggie Caps
Naturally Occurring Caffeine
GMO Free
Produced In A GMP Certified Facility
Exceptional Metabolic Booster
Guarana Extract Tablets
For Sustained Energy
Source Naturals Guarana Energizer 900mg, 100 Tablets
Sustained Release, Natural Caffeine
Supports A Long Lasting Energy Boost
Convenient And Potent
Excellent Pre-Workout
Guarana is an excellent preworkout stimulant with plenty of caffeine that’s boosted with other naturally occurring phytochemicals that are good for your health. Some of the preliminary research behind its ability to block the body from forming fat cells adds to its weight loss capabilities. If you don’t care for coffee or the various tea options on this page and just want to get straight to the point, then guarana might be just what you need.
Coffee
The world’s most popular pick me up beverage doesn’t require much of an introduction, but there are some useful things you should know about it.
Cordyceps
Wild grown, high altitude Cordyceps runs for about $50,000 for one kilogram, or about $10 for one single piece. Don't worry, you can get it for much less.
Green Tea
Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the world’s most popular beverages. It not only has lots of health benefits, but it's also an excellent fat burner.
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) or Mate for short, is a popular tea alternative with a long drinking history in the South American country of Paraguay.
Guayusa
Guayusa (Ilex guayusa) is in the same family as Yerba Mate and it's been used by humans for at least 1,500 years according to archeological evidence.
Yohimbine
Pausinystalia yohimbe, is one of several different plant species in the pausinystalia family that contain yohimbine, a potent fat burner.