Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is widely used to support energy and reduce fatigue, primarily due to its high natural caffeine content. Scientific evidence suggests that guarana can have stimulating effects similar to those of coffee and tea. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that guarana supplementation may increase alertness, improve cognitive performance, and reduce the perception of fatigue in both healthy individuals and those subjected to mentally or physically demanding tasks.

Guarana seeds contain approximately 2-6% caffeine, which is about twice the concentration found in coffee beans. Caffeine is a well-established central nervous system stimulant, known to temporarily reduce tiredness and increase concentration. Some studies have also suggested that guarana may have additional compounds (such as theobromine and tannins) that could contribute synergistically to its stimulating effects.

While there is a strong mechanistic and pharmacological basis for guarana’s energizing properties, and several small-scale human trials support its use for enhancing energy and alertness, the overall body of evidence is still limited in scope and quality. Most studies are short-term and use small sample sizes. Nevertheless, due to its caffeine content and demonstrated stimulant effects, the use of guarana for combating lack of energy is considered scientifically plausible and moderately supported.

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Nature's Sunshine MetaboMax Plus
Nature's Sunshine Ultra Therm