**The Miraculous Guarana Legend**
In the impenetrable embrace of the Amazon jungle, there existed a humble village. Within this village resided an amiable and loving couple who yearned for a child. Yet, as years passed, their hopes remained unfulfilled. Moved by their desolation, the Spirit of Goodness gifted them with a beautiful baby boy whose smile brought delight to the entire village. Guaraná, as they called him, became the village’s most cherished child.
Engulfed by envy toward the child’s adored status, the Spirit of Evil disguised itself as a venomous snake and delivered a fatal bite. Overwhelmed by despair, the villagers watched as Guaraná’s life slowly ebbed away.
But the Spirit of Goodness intervened once more. He retrieved Guaraná’s left eye and sowed it into the jungle soil. He then bestowed his right eye upon Guaraná’s parents, instructing them to bury it near their hut. Remarkably, a magnificent plant emerged from these eyes, its fruit bearing an uncanny likeness to the beloved child’s wide, pure eyes. And just as his spirit exuded compassion, so too did the fruit of this plant possess medicinal qualities.
This is the captivating tale narrated by the South American Maué, Tupí, and Guaraní tribes about the genesis of the guarana plant that thrives abundantly within their territories. Although the story may be shrouded in myth, it holds a kernel of truth. The fruit of the guarana plant does indeed bear a striking resemblance to human eyes, and it has a long-standing history of medicinal use. In recent times, it has been hailed as a superfood, yet mainstream medicine classifies it simply as an herb. Why is this so?
**What is Guarana?**
Native to the Amazonian lowlands of South America, guarana is a perennial climbing vine capable of reaching heights of up to 33 feet.
**Description**
Guarana is characterized by its dark branches, elongated oblong leaves with serrated margins, and clusters (inflorescences) of large, reddish-white flowers. Fruit production commences in its third year. The fruit resembles a hazelnut in size, enclosed within a thin skin that varies in hue from bright yellow to grayish-green with crimson tips. Upon ripening, the fruit splits open, revealing a single black or bluish-purple seed approximately the size of a large grape, uniquely shaped like an eye. Guarana trees bear fruit during winter, and after five years, a single bush can yield up to 6.6 pounds of fruit.
Guarana fruit contains double the amount of caffeine found in coffee beans. The plant employs this as a defense mechanism against harmful microbes, as caffeine becomes toxic in such concentrated quantities.
**Seed Processing**
To extract the seeds, the fruit is soaked in water to separate them from the pulp (lest the pulp ferment and mold). Subsequently, they are washed, dried, and roasted to remove their skins. The final step entails grinding them into a fine powder, which is then added to dietary supplements and food products. Locals often combine it with milk or water to create a beverage akin to coffee or cocoa in taste and properties.
**Production**
Guarana was first documented in the 16th century by Spanish chroniclers. Its commercial potential was recognized in modern times by a Brazilian physician, Luiz Pereira Barretto, who introduced a guarana-based soda in 1906, followed by the renowned champagne brand “Guarana Champagne Antarctica.”
By the mid-20th century, guarana fruit had gained widespread use in the food industry. Its extracts are added not only to energy drinks but also to tea, chocolate, spreads, desserts, lozenges, and chewing gum. In Brazil, it is rare to find a product devoid of guarana extract, ranging from breakfast cereals to toothpaste. It is South America’s primary source of caffeine.
Guarana is currently marketed primarily as a natural fat-burning supplement for weight loss and as a psychoactive stimulant and energizer in sports nutrition. Nevertheless, the extent of its effectiveness remains a subject of debate, even within traditional medicine.
**Etymology**
The name “guarana” originates from the Portuguese word, which in turn derives from the Maué language (spoken by an Amazonian tribe) and signifies “fruit resembling human eyes.”
**Composition**
Guarana’s value lies in its seeds, which contain a high concentration of caffeine. Some sources refer to it as guaranine, but it is identical in properties to the caffeine found in coffee beans. However, guarana seeds contain double the amount of caffeine—20 mg per 100 g of the natural source.
But guarana seeds offer more than just caffeine. They also contain other beneficial bioactive substances, including:
* Xanthine alkaloids (including theophylline and theobromine, which are natural heart stimulants)
* Polyphenols (flavonoid antioxidants catechin and epicatechin)
* Amides (derivatives of oxygen-containing acids)
* Saponins
* Vitamins A, E, and almost the entire B group (most notably thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin)
* Numerous minerals: zinc, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, copper
* Tannins
It is a plant-based source of protein with zero calories and no carbohydrates and minimal fat content.
**Fun Fact:** Guarana’s medicinal properties were so highly valued by certain South American tribes that they used it as currency.
**Benefits**
Guarana seed extracts serve as the basis for a wide range of dietary supplements, most notably energy drinks (in sports nutrition) and fat burners (in dietetics). But in addition to these primary properties, guarana is also said to have a number of other health benefits.
**Health Benefits**
Guarana seeds have been employed for centuries by South American tribes to treat a variety of ailments, and some studies have provided partial confirmation of their health benefits. However, more research is required before guarana can be officially classified as a medicinal plant and incorporated into pharmacology.
Guarana seed extract is believed to exert the following therapeutic effects on the body:
* Relieves various types of pain—from headaches to toothaches
* Lowers fever, alleviating symptoms of a fever
* Eliminates spasms
* Strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of bacterial infections
* Relieves fatigue, increases efficiency
* Helps with arthritis, reducing inflammation in the joints
* Improves digestion, stopping diarrhea
* Treats hangovers
