[[File:Guarana.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Guarana]]
Other Names: Paullinia cupana, Brazilian cocoa<br>Guarana (pronounced gwa-ra-NAH) is a creeping shrub native to Venezuela and northern Brazil in the Amazon rain forest. The fruit are small, bright-red, and contains black seeds. Guarana seeds are rich in caffeine and contain up to 4-8% caffeine, more than coffee beans, which contain approximately 1–2.5% caffeine. The seeds are also rich in tannins and xanthine alkaloids theophylline and theobromine.<br> Dee See also : [[caffeineCaffeine]]
==Special Precautions of Guarana==
* Guarana should not be used by people who are sensitive to caffeine or xanthines.
*Guarana has been found to decrease platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis, so it may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with aspirin, anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin®), and platelet inhibitors such as Ticlopidine (Ticlid®), Clopidogrel (Plavix®).
*Guarana should not be combined with MAO-inhibitors, and may cause headaches.
==The benefits Health Benefits and Uses of Guarana are==
Guarana drinks and sodas are very popular in Brazil (where guarana is considered to be a health tonic), almost as popular as cola-based sodas. Sweet, carbonated guarana drinks include the popular brands Guaraná Antarctica, Guaraná Brahma, and Kuat (from Coca-Cola Company). In North America, guarana has recently become a popular ingredient in energy drinks and teas.
* Guarana is one of the richest sources of caffeine, containing up to three times the amount of caffeine as coffee. Unlike coffee, the amount of caffeine doesn't have to be listed on guarana drinks.
* In addition to its stimulant properties, guarana is also a popular ingredient in herbal weight loss pills. Some evidence indicates that guarana may suppress appetite and increase fat-burning : An animal study examined the effect of 14 days of guarana supplementation on fat metabolism in sedentary and trained rats and found that the guarana's fat-burning effect is due to the caffeine content. Decaffeinated guarana extracts had no effect on lipid metabolism.
* A Journal of Psychopharmacology study found that guarana improved memory, mood and alertness at low (37.5 mg, 75 mg) vs. higher (150 mg, 300 mg) doses. However, another study examined the long-term use of guarana, caffeine, or placebo on the cognition of 45 older individuals. There were no significant effects of guarana on cognition
==Recommended ProductsMain Combinations==<html>*Improving physical and sporting performance : [[Eleutherococcus]] + Guarana <frameset rows="*Obesity,Overweight : Guarana + [[Shan Zha]] + [[Orthosiphon]]*"> <frame src="httpTonic ://community.spiceworks.com/topic/611674-display-url-on-web-page">Guarana + [[Ginseng]] <frame src="http*Chronic fatigue ://community.spiceworks.com/topic/611674-display-url-on-web-page"></frameset> </html>Guarana + [[Royal Jelly]]
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[[Category:herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Aphrodisiac]]