And when mixed with other ingredients, it's a very healthy snack that fuels you for hours
The Amazonians used it to boost physical endurance and increase stamina. Today it is used by athletes, sports enthusiasts, students, busy people, and anybody in need of a healthy snack or energy surge but can't drink tea or coffee.
Is it an aphrodisiac?
Not really. But the excited, energetic sensation that runs throughout the body will naturally affect the sex organs - together with the kidneys, adrenals, thyroid etc - so it's not a sex aid, but a body buzz.Tip - if you're looking for a sex stimulant, try maca, damiana or ginseng (I'll write about these next week!)
So what is it exactly?
Guarana is a creeper, a plant whose seeds contain 4 - 8% caffeine. But the plant form of caffeine, guaranine, is slow acting and longer lasting than caffeine, so it has prolonged benefits. where caffeine offers a quick burst of mental activity and alertness, it can quickly dissipate leaving us with withdrawal symptoms like dehydration and headaches.
What's in it?
Guarana is rich in xanthine alkaloids and theobromine (theobroma: Gk.: 'food of the gods') - which are natural stimulants. It is also rich in tannins and contains trace elements of potassium, iron, zinc, sodium and all manner of metals and particles that comprise the universe, oh, and the human body.
What is it good for?
Guarana has been studied scientifically since the 1940s, but long before that it was used widely as health tonic in Brazil. So far we know that it:
• increases stamina and physical endurance
• aids concentration and mental awareness
• overcomes fatigue
It is also used to:
• combat premature aging
• detoxify the blood
• reduce gas, diarrhea and dysentery
• migraine relief
• aid weight loss - Yes guarana is widely used as a weight loss aid due to its natural tendency to increase the metabolism and burn calories.
BE CAREFUL if using it for this purpose, please check with your doctor or health specialist before mixing, blending, or substituting one product with another.
Who should avoid Guarana?
• Pregnant or breast feeding women
• Those with high blood pressure
• Diabetics
• Anybody sensitive to caffeine or xanthines
How to get it?If, like me, you love fresh coffee but are hooked after a few mornings of wake-up juice, try guarana. You get a boost without the drawbacks of addiction.
I prefer healthy snack bars over fizzy drinks, and have discovered a new one, sold by Bioporek, that is tasty. Available in health food shops or online at Bioporek.com, it is blended with sun-dried fruits, honey, almonds and a twist of bitter chocolate. It's raw and organic, so a good source of get-up-and-go.
Guarana is widely available in its pure form as capsules, powder, tinctures and sticks in a variety of bottles, packs and pills. The Guarana Bar has a comprehensive online shop.