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Guarana in Energy Drinks

Guarana is a climbing plant native to the Amazon, characterized by its ripe red fruits. It has been used by indigenous peoples of the Amazon for centuries as a drink believed to aid in fatigue recovery.

Guarana extract is one of the key energy ingredients commonly found in energy drinks. It is used in popular brands such as Monster Energy, Rockstar, and many others.

Caffeine in Guarana

Guarana contains 3.6–5.8% caffeine. In comparison, coffee beans typically contain around 2% caffeine.

Differences Between Guarana and Coffee Caffeine

It is often stated online that "guarana's caffeine is stronger or weaker than coffee’s caffeine and is absorbed more slowly," but there is no clear evidence to support this. While other compounds in guarana seeds might cause some differences, there isn't enough data to definitively make such a claim.

There are also some sources (such as the "Herb Encyclopedia" by Seibundo Shinkosha) stating, "Guarana may prevent sleep, but its effects are weaker than caffeine." However, how reliable this statement is is questionable.

Caffeine and Guarana Content in Energy Drinks

Energy drinks list their caffeine content, and separately, the amount of guarana extract is indicated. Therefore, the actual caffeine content might be higher than what is stated.

By knowing the amount of guarana extract in an energy drink, you can estimate the amount of caffeine derived from guarana.

Guarana and Caffeine Content in Energy Drinks

Here are some energy drinks that clearly list the guarana extract content:

Assuming the average caffeine content of guarana is around 4.7%, we can estimate the caffeine derived from guarana in these drinks:

• AMP Cherry: Guarana 264mg = Caffeine 12mg (4.7%)
• Rip It TRIBUTE: Guarana 6mg = Caffeine 0.282mg (4.7%)
• Beaver Buzz Original: Guarana 9mg = Caffeine 0.423mg (4.7%)
• KIIVA STRONG: Guarana 200mg = Caffeine 9.4mg (4.7%)
• Starbucks Hazelnut: Guarana 90mg = Caffeine 4.23mg (4.7%)

It seems that the guarana content isn’t as high as one might expect. It's unclear whether the listed caffeine content includes guarana-derived caffeine, so it's best to be cautious and only consider the stated caffeine content.

Since many energy drinks contain very small amounts of guarana extract, there’s probably little need to worry too much.

Effects of Guarana

The effects of guarana are similar to those of caffeine:

• Diuretic effect
• Arousing effect
• Fatigue recovery

Guarana has been used for centuries for various purposes including boosting vitality, alleviating fatigue, calming, preventing obesity, and anti-aging. These effects were once attributed to a compound called "guaranine" in guarana, but research later revealed that guarana’s effects are primarily due to caffeine.

Researchers once believed that the active ingredient of guarana was a chemical specific to the plant -- guaranine. But they later discovered that it was just caffeine.

引用：Why do people take guarana? (WebMD)

Thus, it’s unlikely that the mere presence of guarana extract in an energy drink automatically makes it an especially powerful product.

Precautions with Guarana

As mentioned earlier, guarana contains caffeine, so combining it with other caffeinated drinks can increase the risk of excessive caffeine intake. If you plan to consume large amounts of guarana (which is rare), it's best to avoid drinking coffee or energy drinks along with it.
⇒See Guarana on iHerb
⇒See Guarana on Amazon