Guarana, a small powerful seed
Guarana is a seed from a shrub traditionally cultivated by the Satéré Maué Indians in the Brazilian Amazon. It is known for its anti-fatigue properties: it is in fact one of the foods richest in caffeine, three to four times more than coffee !
Guarana is highly prized in Brazil, both as a beverage, as a stimulant and as a traditional remedy. It arrived in Europe with the first colonizers. In 19th-century France, guarana extract was already used to make a stimulant drink. Today it is used by athletes as an anti-fatigue agent, as part of slimming diets as “fat-burner” and to temporarily improve physical and mental performance.
The main ingredient in energy drinks
Guarana is one of the ingredients most prized by manufacturers for the production of energy drinks. However, be careful: these drinks can prove harmful to health : very high in sugar, they can contribute to overweight, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Beyond guarana itself, which is a health ingredient, they contain synthetic substances such as taurine, whose long-term effects on the body are unknown. In addition, they can cause short-term palpitations or even heart problems in cases of excessive consumption.
Guaraná Antarctica, to avoid
Brazilians are very fond of this guarana soda : it is the second best-selling soft drink after Coca-Cola and one of the 15 best-selling carbonated drinks in the world! The Guarana Antarctica brand is the best known in Brazil; it has existed since 1921. Its caffeine content is low (0.9 mg / 100 ml) although one of the selling points of guarana soda is that it is an energy drink.
Guarana Antarctica en 1922 ©Capture d’écran Youtube
The Brazilian Guarana Antarctica and its peers (Guarana Jesus, guarana Fanta…) are above all packed with sugar: there are 36 grams in a can, which already equals 148% of the recommended daily sugar intake! So consume it with the greatest moderation, and avoid it altogether for children.
That doesn’t mean you should refrain from consuming guarana. To get the most from the benefits of guarana, it’s better consumed as a natural powder or in capsules. Prefer organic guarana to ensure it is free from pesticide residues.
Health drinks with guarana
You can drink guarana and enjoy its “pick-me-up” effect while also benefiting from its health properties, by rediscovering the original guarana drink consumed by Native Americans. The çapo is indeed a ritual and medicinal beverage made by mixing guarana powder with water.
Consuming guarana powder
The healthiest way to consume guarana is indeed to take it in powder form, mixing it into a glass of water.
Guarana should be consumed in the morning to best benefit from its energizing properties and avoid insomnia. Likewise, to prevent sleep problems or unwanted side effects, no more than 5 grams per day should be consumed.
Those who don’t appreciate its bitter taste can mix guarana powder into juice, a smoothie, or yogurt.
Recipes for homemade guarana drinks
You can make your own energy drink at home with guarana powder. For that, blend a beet, the juice of two organic oranges, a teaspoon of guarana and a little cinnamon or grated ginger.
Another little energy bomb for athletes : blend a banana, a teaspoon of guarana, almond milk and acerola or cherry juice with ice cubes. Delicious before going for a morning run !
You can also make a fat-burning drink by gently warming a large cup of green tea, then mixing in a teaspoon of guarana powder and freshly blended pineapple juice.
Faites parler votre imagination et créez des cocktails au guarana pour profiter au mieux de ses différentes vertus ! Quoi qu’il en soit, on zappe le sucre et on privilégie le miel, le sirop d’agave ou les fruits naturellement sucrés, comme la poire ou la banane.
Lire aussi | Nos conseils pour choisir le meilleur guarana
Which guarana drinks to stay in shape?
There are also guarana drinks on the market that can be enjoyed for a natural pick-me-up. Always opt for organic guarana drinks, preferably without added sugar.
For example, Spirtonic is a powder made from spirulina, guarana, acerola and spices to mix into juice. You benefit from the virtues of these three superfoods for a real boost ! The Matahi brand also sells juices that blend baobab fruit, an energizing superfruit, with guarana seeds and lemon or ginger, for natural energy drinks. Finally, the startup Nossa ! offers an “Energy” juice made from organic guarana and açaí, another superfruit from the Brazilian Amazon.
One precaution to take, however, whether it’s homemade guarana beverages or store-bought cocktails : never mix guarana with ephedra. Indeed, a scientific study proved that this fat-burning cocktail can cause significant side effects: irritability, increased blood pressure, palpitations… Ephedra is also banned in Canada, but it is sometimes sold online in certain dietary supplements for weight loss.
