Does Guarana Work?

Some people may wonder, "Does guarana work?" At this time, no studies have been conducted on whether the herbal supplement works to increase energy or assist in weight loss. Although a few clinical studies have shown that caffeine (the active ingredient in guarana) can be helpful for short-term weight loss, there are still no published studies concerning the effectiveness of guarana.

 

Does Guarana Work for Weight Loss or Energy?

Guarana is a plant that is native to the Amazon. It is used in numerous energy drinks, energy supplements, and weight loss aids. No studies have been done to see if guarana works to increase energy or weight loss. However, the active component of guarana is just caffeine, and some studies have shown that caffeine may be effective for these uses.
 
Guarana and Weight Loss
A few studies have shown that caffeine (when used in combination with ephedra) can be helpful as a short-term solution for weight loss. However, since ephedra has been banned, it is not possible to take these two products together. It is not known whether caffeine itself is effective for weight loss. Caffeine can act as a stimulant, which may temporarily increase metabolism. However, due to the problems that can occur with high doses of stimulants (such as heart problems), caffeine's usefulness as a weight loss aid is limited.
 
Guarana and Energy
Most people feel that caffeine can increase energy and alertness, although not everyone experiences these effects. Some people can experience a large effect (even to the point of insomnia) from just a little caffeine, while others can drink several cups of coffee without experiencing any effects. If you do not find caffeine to be helpful for increasing your energy, you will not find guarana to be effective either.
 
(Does Guarana Work? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;