Introducing another one of our research-backed ingredients, this time it’s the turn of guarana. A bold, bright and beautiful fruit, the guarana fruit is native to the Amazon region of the country of Brazil in South America. It’s widely popular in Southern America and all over the world for its sweet taste and surprising caffeine qualities.
Long thought of as the elixir of a long life, guarana reduces physical stress, maximises your endurance and promotes healthy brain functioning. But what is this exotic fruit? It’s time to deep dive into another of our well-loved Innermost ingredients.
What is guarana?
Guarana is a rainforest fruit that grows on vines in the middle of the rainforest. The fruit has been consumed for thousands of years, dating back to indigenous Amazonian tribes, who have long brewed the seeds of the guarana fruit to make what we would refer to as an energy drink or tea.
In the health and wellness world, guarana is available in the form of tablets and capsules, or commonly in drinks and smoothies that aim to up energy levels, taking advantage of the fruit’s natural caffeine levels. In fact, the seeds of a guarana fruit are the most caffeine rich of any fruit in the world.
How much caffeine is in guarana fruit, exactly?
The seeds of a guarana fruit actually contain four times the natural caffeine amount that coffee beans do, which is pretty mega, as coffee is the stereotypical natural caffeine source, as we all know (and love). Each guarana fruit seed contains around 2.5% of caffeine… there’s a reason Amazonian tribe have brewed these seeds for years (and years) for their energy benefits, after all.
What is guarana fruit and it’s seeds used for?
By now it’s probably pretty clear that guarana fruit is used as an energy booster. And in The Energy Booster, actually. The clue is in the name.
Aside from this, the guarana fruit brings a host of health benefits that range from the improvement of cognitive abilities to overall health and wellbeing.
Some well-known guarana benefits include:
- A reduction in fatigue levels
- An overall energy increase
- An aid in learning and cognitive functioning abilities
- A boost in memory functioning
- Protection of the heart and heart health
How much guarana is safe to take?
Whilst there are no guidelines to follow when it comes to consuming copious amounts of guarana, there are guidelines when it comes to consuming caffeine. Dangerous levels of caffeine can bring on a host of unpleasant and damaging side effects, including trouble sleeping, various breathing issues, excessive thirst, painful headaches and more.
It’s advised that healthy adults consume no more than 400mg of caffeine a day. The good news is that The Energy Booster contains 71mg of caffeine and 100mg of guarana, leaving you plenty of room for a coffee if you fancy one throughout the day.
Who can take guarana and guarana supplements?
Again, this is up to your discretion, but it is advised that children, those who are pregnant, and those with an overactive thyroid avoid consuming guarana fruit (or anything super high in caffeine, for that matter).
Summary
Natural sources of energy are always the best option but be mindful when it comes to your consumption of energy drinks – even if they have guarana in them. Often, these energy drinks are laden with extra sugar, other artificial flavourings and other nasties that aren’t necessary to gain the energy boost you desire, so remember to keep an eye on what you’re putting in your body!
