What is Guarana Seed?

Guarana Seed has been in common knowledge for quite some time, since the seventeen century, and for good reason. It also goes by the common names of Guarana bread and Brazilia coke. The name of Guarana Seed comes from the Portuguese word guarana, and this popular herb may offer some interesting health benefits, including a boost to energy levels.

Guarana Seed comes from the Paullina cupana plant, which is a vining plant that is native to Brazil, and found commonly in the Amazon basin. The plant is part of the botanical family that includes maples, yet this plant is a vine. The fruit varies in color from red to brown, and is produced from the clusters of ivory-colored flowers. The Guarana Seed, which is black in color and found inside the fruit, is fairly large as seeds go, about the size of a coffee bean.

People of the Guarani culture in Brazil use Brazilian guarana to create a tea. They remove the shells from the seeds and wash them. After this, the seeds are ground into a fine Guarana seed powder, which they use to knead the ground Guarana seed powder into a dough-like substance that is rolled into cylinder shapes. These cylinders of Guarana seed powder are grated, and the gratings put into a cup, and hot water is poured over. Sugar is often added as well.

Paullina cupana is commonly used in energy drinks in South America. This is due to the chemical guaranine found in Guarana Seed, which offers an effect similar to caffeine found in coffee or tea. According to a 1993 report in Pharmaceutical Biology, Guarana contains twice the caffeine found in coffee beans. It is also commonly used as an herbal tea and an ingredient in certain soft drinks. It may also help to improve memory and alertness. It may offer antioxidant and antibacterial qualities. Studies with mice have shown it may help to reduce fat cells as well.

Some common sense should be used if you are considering Guarana Seed. As when drinking too much coffee can give some people jitters, the same effect can happen from overconsumption of guarana.

Because the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the efficacy of Guarana seed powder, you should not take it for the purpose of diagnosing, treating, curing or preventing any disease. If you believe yourself to have a medical problem, you should contact a health care provider right away.