Summary
Paullinia cupana, also known as guarana, is a fruit bearing tree, the seeds of which are ground into powder and used in traditional Amazonian medicine.
Guarana is supplemented primarily for its stimulant properties.
Guarana may have additional anticancer effects, but much more research is needed to confirm this effect. Guarana is not a fat burning compound.
Guarana contains xanthines, like caffeine, catechins, tannins, and procyanidins. Though the individual effects of these compounds are known, more research is needed to determine how they interact in guarana.
Though guarana has a high caffeine content, the average guarana dose is low enough to prevent the caffeine from playing an active role.
What are other names for Guarana
- Guarana
- Guaraná
- Brazilian Cocoa
- Paullinia Cupana
- Ginseng (usually refers to Panax Ginseng)
Dosage information
To supplement guarana, take 50 – 75mg once a day, before noon. Two divided dose of 50 mg (once after waking up and once shortly after noon) can also be used, for a total daily dose of 100 mg.
Further study is needed to determine the optimal guarana dose.
Guarana is not recommended to be used at night because it contains caffeine and has other stimulatory properties.
