Guarana is a type of berry grown in South America that is used much in the same way caffeine is used to supplement sodas, candy and even chewing gum. The berries themselves are extremely similar in composition to coffee beans. Although the chemicals in the berries are slightly different, they have the same basic effect as caffeine at about the same dose level. In the US you’ll find guarana used in weight loss supplements and the newest trend is to include extracts in energy drinks.

Some websites claim this berry as the latest medical silver bullet, which can address many different issues. It’s been touted as an effective weight loss treatment and a concentration aid. Like caffeine it can temporarily increase concentration ability, boost mental and physical performance and give the mood a slight lift. It may also slightly suppress appetite. On the other hand, too much of it can have the same negative effects as those produced by caffeine.

Though the drug ephedra is no longer available in the US, you’ll find numerous energy drinks and pills containing a combination of guarana and ma huang (ephedra) on the Internet. These have been proven dangerous and there is a risk of death if you take ephedra. They can help you lose weight, but such weight loss is not worth risking your life. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urges people not to purchase these.

Guarana in energy drinks has created problems too, especially among teens and young adults. There is the possibility of getting ill from consuming too much caffeine, whether it is labeled as caffeine or guarana. Some teens and adults have become very ill after consuming high numbers of energy drinks, and this should be avoided.

As for weight loss claims regarding guarana, it can be said that it’s about as effective as taking caffeine pills. Caffeine pills for weight loss have been on the market for about 50 years, and if they worked effectively, anyone who wanted to lose weight would use them. They clearly are no substitute for diet and exercise and will not cause massive weight loss.

Some claim the benefits in guarana lie in the fact that it is more natural than caffeine. This is highly questionable. Caffeine may be lab produced but plenty of it comes from natural sources too. The coffee bean is no less natural than the guarana berry.

Despite dubious health claims regarding this berry and its chemical compound of guaranine, it’s now being marketed in energy drinks as a safe and natural alternative to caffeine. Companies like Pepsi® and Coca Cola® are jumping on the bandwagon to produce drinks containing gauranine to capture the market for those who consume energy drinks. Most medical practitioners advise that you treat these drinks with care. While consuming the occasional energy drink can be fine, you should not consume any more than that on a regular basis. If you simply consider guaranine as essentially caffeine, it can guide toward making healthy choices and ignoring inflated claims about this product.