Guarana is one of the species of the family of sapindas, is an evergreen creeping shrub spread over the territory of tropical South America. According to one of the darkest legends of the Maui Indians, Guarana grew out of the eyes of the deceased boy, and that is why her fruits have such a somewhat eerie look.
It has long been used as a therapeutic and tonic by indigenous peoples of the Amazon shores. In Europe, guarana began to be used in the 19th century for the treatment of migraine and small nervous disorders.
Currently, guarana extract , due to its toning effect, is a part of many sports drinks and fat burners.
Amazonian Guarana for weight loss
Amazon guarana seed extract is often used in sports nutrition to create so-called fat burners - these are nutritional supplements that help athletes remove excess weight. The fact is that the seeds of this plant contain simply a record amount of caffeine (2 times more than in coffee beans), as well as related substances - theophylline and theobromine, which like caffeine can accelerate metabolism . Thanks to this effect, guarana is so popular with people who need to get rid of excess weight.
Benefits of guarana
Caffeine, like other xanthine derivatives, has a pronounced psycho-stimulating effect, due to which it raises working capacity and improves mood, which is very important during the diet, tk. it is depressive states that are often pushed to breakdowns in the food system, and therefore, reduce all efforts to achieve the desired weight by no. Another important property of guarana is the ability to reduce appetite, which allows you to reduce the number of calories entering the body, without affecting the emotional state.
In addition, the extract of guarana has a mild analgesic effect, which makes it possible to use it against headaches (except for hypertension) and migraine headaches.
Contraindications to the use of guarana
Despite all its positive effects, guarana has a number of contraindications. So, it is contraindicated:
- pregnant and lactating women, tk. caffeine and other related substances contained in guarana in large quantities are able to penetrate the placenta to the fetus, as well as into breast milk and interfere with the normal development of the child;
- children under 12 years;
- people suffering from hypertension;
- people with increased nervous excitability;
- suffering from insomnia;
- with severe atherosclerosis.
People with heart rhythm disorders, as well as other diseases of the cardiovascular system, should consult a doctor before using this food supplement. It is not superfluous to consult a doctor before taking guarana and people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to take guarana?
Currently, guarana extract is produced in a variety of forms - it is a powder for cooking cold
- Guarana should be consumed in the morning (no later than 17 pm), otherwise there may be problems with sleep.
- Take supplements containing guarana, preferably 30-60 minutes before training, so they will act as effectively as possible.
- The maximum dose of guarana powder, or its equivalent, should not exceed 3 grams per day.