Guarana tea is made from ground seeds of the guarana berry, containing guaranine, similar to caffeine. It can improve cognitive functions and digestion, but excessive consumption can cause negative side effects. It is popular in South America and has other perceived benefits, but pregnant women should avoid it.
Guarana tea is a type of herbal tea made from the ground seeds of the guarana berry. The compound guaranine, found in tea, is considered almost identical to caffeine, and is sometimes found in other products, such as energy drinks. Many health benefits are associated with the consumption of guarana tea, particularly improving cognitive functions and promoting healthy digestion. The negative side effects are similar to those associated with consuming too much caffeine.
The guarana plant is a shrub native to South Africa, whose berries contain a compound called guaranine. This compound is also found in the seeds of these berries, as the seeds are considered the most valuable and widely used part of the plant. Guaranine’s stimulant qualities are considered to be very similar to those found in caffeine, if not identical. Some scientific sources don’t actually distinguish any difference between the guaranine found in guarana tea compared to the caffeine found in typical black, green, oolong, or mate teas.
Unlike many herbal teas, the seeds of the guarana plant are used to make guarana tea, rather than using the leaves, twigs, stems, or flowers of the plant. Such seeds are crushed and added to boiling water until soaked for about ten to fifteen minutes. Milk may be added to the finished product to provide a creamy texture, and the tea is often sweetened with sugar or honey. A typical cup of guarana tea has slightly more guaranine than the amount of caffeine found in a typical cup of black tea. Guarana tea is popularly consumed in South America.
There are many other perceived benefits to drinking guarana tea aside from its stimulating qualities. It can reduce the severity of migraines, prevent depression, serve as a sexual stimulant, and promote certain digestive system benefits, despite the fact that guaranine is a diuretic. The tea can also boost energy and fight certain cognitive deficiencies. Some sources claim that it is also popularly consumed for fat burning and weight loss, although such claims have yet to be backed up by the scientific community.
As is typical with drinking too many caffeinated beverages, drinking too much guarana tea can also have adverse side effects. Anxiety, tremors, heart pounding, and a frequent need to urinate can occur due to excessive consumption. It is recommended that pregnant women avoid consuming this tea, along with caffeinated teas, coffee, soft drinks, or regular energy drinks. Some energy drinks contain guaranine in addition to the standard caffeine.
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