Guarana provides natural, healthy energy boost to caffeine
By Reagan Swaine, November 09
Staff Writer
Photo by Reagan Swaine |
| Some multivitamins contain guarana. |
Guaraná, a native South American berry, is becoming popular in the U.S. because of its many health benefits.
According to Jessica Tran, N.D. instructor of Environmental Medicine at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, a daily multivitamin that contains added guaraná helps to support the immune system and naturally increases energy.
“The added affects of guaraná on the human body and mind has been given little attention until recently,” says Tran.
Guaraná is a tropical berry that is native to Venezuela and Brazil in the Amazon regions. Guaraná is often used as a caffeine supplement in energy drinks and sodas.
According to the Sao Paulo and American Medical Journals, studies have been done recently with multivitamins containing guaraná. These studies showed that the levels of caffeine-related properties in the guaraná that were added to the vitamin were too low to be considered functionally active. Therefore, researchers believe that guaraná has additional, beneficial nutritional value and does more than emulate caffeine.
Because guaraná has similar effects as caffeine, researchers believe that it is wise not to exceed the normal limits of caffeine. Doses of guaraná should be treated as doses of caffeine. Roughly the same amount of guaraná is put into an energy drink as the same amount of caffeine is put into a soda. Women who are pregnant or those with a history of heart problems should consult their doctor before taking guaraná.
A recent study done by the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at Northumbria University in the U.K. shows that a multivitamin with added guaraná taken daily can reduce mental fatigue, improve cognitive performance, increase stamina and physical endurance, and when added to a vitamin, will simultaneously deliver the added nutrients that are in many daily multivitamins.
Amy Hall, a clinical nutritionist in Phoenix, says that guaraná has also been used as a key ingredient in weight loss pills. Hall believes that a daily multivitamin with added guaraná would be very effective for young adults of all activity levels.
Kroger, the makers of the One-A-Day vitamin line, have come out with several daily vitamins containing guaraná/; the One-A-Day Energy and the One-A-Day Weight Smart Advanced for both men and women. The One-A-Day Energy contains doses of various vitamins and minerals that are designed more for those who are moderately to very active. The One-A-Day Weight Smart Advanced is designed for those who live a sedentary to moderately active lifestyle and are looking to lose weight.
Guaraná is almost identical to caffeine and works very similarly. Guaraná stimulates the body’s adrenal glands, releasing hormones, which then enhances fat loss, endurance and energy. It also suppresses the appetite, stimulates respiration, blood flow and mental performance.
Hall says that guaraná has many added benefits, which its close relative, caffeine does not have, including aiding with indigestion. However, caffeine does exist within guaraná itself and one should be aware of how much is being consumed.
“Almost anything can be healthy when used in moderation,” says Hall.
Though there are no known toxicities of guaraná, it still has caffeine related side effects and when used in excess can cause jitteriness and insomnia. Guaraná is also a natural diuretic, causing dehydration, so more water should be consumed when using guaraná.
Tran believes that the most effective way of ingesting guaraná would be as an added ingredient in a daily multivitamin. She says that a daily multivitamin with added guaraná would give an individual the benefits of guaraná in a moderated form as well as help to ensure that individuals meet the nutritional requirements for healthy living.
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