'Brazilian apple': A miracle fruit for health, more valuable than coffee

Guaraná is a climbing plant in the Sapindaceae family, with the scientific name Paullinia cupana. It is native to the Amazon basin (South America), especially common in Brazil.

Thousand year specialty

Guarana fruit.

It's easy to tell the guaraná fruit apart from other fruits because of its striking color and… creepy shape. It turns red when ripe and splits in half, exposing the black seeds and white flesh.

Outwardly, it resembles the human eye. Hence the guaraná's nickname, 'the pupil'.

In Brazil, guaraná is the trademark specialty of Maués, a municipality in the state of Amazonas. For this municipality, guaraná is tradition, culture, present and future. It can be said that the whole life here revolves around guaraná.

According to scientific analysis, guaraná seeds contain 4 times more caffeine than coffee beans . In addition, it also contains many other nerve stimulants such as saponin, tannin. They have the effect of improving cognitive health, preventing cardiovascular disease, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, depression, regulating the intestines.

The indigenous people of Maués are the Sateré-Mawé . Since the beginning of time, their ancestors have known how to grow and use guaraná. The Sateré-Mawé have a special love and reverence for guaraná. They call it 'the eye of the gods'.

In 1669, the Western world learned about the guaraná of ​​the Sateré-Mawé people, through the religious envoy João Felipe Betendorf (Portugal). This priest was sent to the Americas to preach and was captivated by the guaraná.

In the 18th century, the Portuguese frantically scooped up Maués' guaraná and sold it all over the world. In the 19th century, guaraná spread throughout the Americas and Europe.

"For us, guaraná is not only a mystical plant, but also our national origin ," says proud local resident Obadias Batista Garcia (Maués).

Health benefits of guarana

1. Rich in antioxidants

Guarana contains many compounds with antioxidant properties including caffeine, theobromine, tannins, saponins and catechins - which are considered to have antioxidant properties similar to green tea,

Antioxidants play a vital role in neutralizing potentially harmful molecules called free radicals that cause chronic disease and cancer as well as accelerate the aging process.

2. Reduce fatigue and improve concentration

Found as a common ingredient in many energy drinks, it is rich in caffeine, which helps you maintain focus and energy by blocking the effects of adenosine, a compound that puts the brain into a relaxed state. According to Healthline, the caffeine in guarana is 4-6 times higher than that in coffee beans.

 Guarana may have properties that help promote weight loss.

People who took guarana supplements also reported feeling less tired during certain tests than those who took a placebo.

According to a 2019 scientific review in the journal Global Psychiatry, caffeine is considered a nootropic — that is, a compound that boosts cognitive function. It works through a variety of mechanisms, including increasing blood flow to the brain, which is essential for overall brain health and performance, as well as improving reaction time and memory accuracy in young adults.

3. Promote weight loss

Obesity is a concern today because of its association with increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Interestingly, guarana may have properties that help promote weight loss. Specifically, guarana is a rich source of caffeine, which boosts metabolism by 3–11% for up to 12 hours. A faster metabolism means your body burns more calories.

Additionally, test-tube studies have found that guarana may inhibit genes that support fat cell production and promote genes that slow it down. However, this research is still limited to test tubes, and more research in animals and humans is needed before we can draw any conclusions.

4. Reduce chronic diarrhea and constipation

According to Healthline, guarana has been used for centuries as a natural digestive tonic to treat digestive issues like chronic diarrhea and constipation. Thanks to its rich tannin and plant-based antioxidants.

Tannin has antibacterial and antiviral properties and is used in the treatment of enteritis and diarrhea, of which guava buds, sim buds, guava peel and mangosteen peel are typical medicinal herbs used by the people. Moreover, guarana is rich in caffeine and can act as a natural laxative, stimulating intestinal motility, thereby effectively reducing constipation.

5. Improve cardiovascular health

The antioxidants in guarana help support blood flow and prevent blood clots. In addition, according to a 2021 review in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, adults who consume guarana may have up to 27% lower levels of oxidized bad cholesterol than similarly aged adults who do not consume the fruit.

As you can see, guarana can reduce the oxidation of bad cholesterol, limiting the buildup of plaque in your arteries. However, due to limited data, this effect needs to be studied in more depth to clearly see the relationship as well as the amount of guarana needed to achieve this benefit.

6. Caffeine helps relieve pain

Historically, Amazonian tribes have used guarana as a pain reliever. This comes from its high caffeine content, which helps control pain by binding to and blocking adenosine receptors. Two of these receptors, A1 and A2a, are involved in stimulating pain sensations.

When caffeine binds to these receptors, the sensation of pain is reduced. This is also why caffeine is often found in many over-the-counter pain relievers.

7. May have anti-cancer properties

Animal and test-tube studies have shown that guarana can protect against DNA damage and stop the growth of cancer cells. According to Healthline, a study in mice found that those given guarana in their diet had 58% fewer cancer cells and a five-fold increase in cancer cell death compared to mice that did not have guarana in their diet.

Scientists hypothesize that guarana's potential anti-cancer properties stem from its content of xanthines, a compound similar to caffeine and theobromine. However, although the results of animal and test-tube experiments are promising, more human studies are needed before guarana can be included as part of a cancer treatment.

8. Antibacterial properties

According to Healthline, the combination of caffeine and plant-based compounds such as catechins or tannins in guarana has a strong antibacterial effect and inhibits many harmful bacteria. Typically, E.coli lives in the intestines of humans and animals.

Several studies have also found that guarana can inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans), a type of bacteria that can cause dental plaque and cavities.

The combination of caffeine and plant-based compounds such as catechins or tannins in guarana has strong antibacterial effects. (Photo: ST).

9. Protects against age-related eye disorders

Over time, your vision will decline as you age, especially when combined with factors such as poor diet, unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, drinking alcohol, etc., which can increase the risk of other eye-related disorders.

Guarana contains compounds that fight oxidative stress, a major risk factor for eye disorders, according to a 2017 study in the Journal of Functional Foods. These age-related eye disorders include macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Research shows that people who regularly consume guarana have better vision than those who eat little or no guarana in their diet.

However, research on the effects of guarana and age-related eye disorders is limited, and more research is needed before formal recommendations can be made.

Side effects of guarana

Like many medications and natural extracts, guarana can have side effects. But guarana is generally considered safe when used as recommended. According to Healthline, guarana has low toxicity at low to moderate doses.

At higher concentrations, guarana can cause similar side effects to excessive caffeine consumption, including rapid heartbeat, insomnia, headaches, seizures, anxiety, nervousness, stomach upset, and tremors. Most notably, caffeine can be addictive and cause dependence if taken in high doses consistently.

Pregnant women should avoid or limit their intake of guarana because caffeine can cross the placenta. Too much can lead to growth abnormalities in the fetus or increase the risk of miscarriage.

Also because it contains caffeine, caution should be exercised when using guarana with breastfeeding women, people over 65 years old and children, people with liver problems, heart rhythm disorders and are using anti-epileptic and anticonvulsant drugs.

Although there is no official recommended dose for guarana, most human studies suggest that doses as low as 50–70 mg of guarana may provide positive health benefits. It is important to pay attention to how your body has responded to previous caffeinated drinks or foods to personalize your needs. However, you should discuss with your doctor before supplementing to get appropriate advice if you are using guarana in tablet or powder form.

Guaraná land

Guaraná is an essential ingredient in Brazilian carbonated soft drinks.

The Sateré-Mawé legend tells that the guaraná is the reincarnation of a beloved village child who was murdered by an evil angel. The angel was so moved by the pain of the people that he buried the child's right eye in the village ground. From where the eye was buried, the first guaraná tree grew, blossomed, and bore fruit, which became the pupil.

In Maués, just 75km from the city, there is a huge guaraná forest, covering 8,000km ² . The people here protect this forest strictly. Every year, they actively dig up saplings and plant them in the gaps in the forest.

The guaraná harvest season lasts from November to March of the following year. The guaraná seeds are only as small as coffee beans, washed, roasted, peeled and ground. People mix the guaraná powder with water, knead it into a cylinder that is easy to hold and then dry it.

The dried guaraná can be preserved for several years. Whenever they want to use it, the Sateré-Mawé grind it on a stone and mix it with water. They call this drink çapó , and use it as a daily drink and as a sacred offering during festivals and New Year's.

In particular, Sateré-Mawé has an extremely unusual type of whetstone that is suitable for guaraná: the ribeirinho fish tongue . This is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, which can weigh up to 200kg, and has a rough tongue covered with sharp spines 10cm long. When dried, this tongue becomes a spike that fits perfectly with the guaraná.

Sustainable Livelihood

Guaraná and ribeirinho fish tongue duo.

Today, around Maués, there are about 2,400 Sateré-Mawé households growing and selling guaraná. They supply 500 tons of beans per year, with a completely manual harvesting and processing method, ensuring absolute quality.

In the world beverage market, guaraná is an indispensable ingredient in many energy and carbonated drinks, especially Coca-Cola . Although not all Brazilians know about guaraná, their consumption of Coca-Cola alone is up to 400 million liters/year.

The purchase price of guaraná in Maués is around 24 Brazilian Reals/kg (more than 100,000 VND). In 2018, the municipality earned 13.94 million BR (equivalent to 60,000 billion VND) from guaraná alone. In addition to Maués, Brazil has many other guaraná-growing regions, such as Presidente Figueiredo, Urucará. Each year, they produce tens of thousands of tons of guaraná, which are sold all over the world.

In recent years, Brazil has been offering guaraná tourism. In Maués, visitors can tour plantations, see the processing, taste guaraná on the spot and participate in the guaraná festival: Festa de Guaraná.

Festa de Guaraná is an annual festival held around late November or early December. It lasts 3 days with many types of performances, entertainment, fairs, sports competitions, beauty pageants.

For decades, Brazilian guaranás have been trying to gain indigenous recognition for the Sateré-Mawé. They claim that the Sateré-Mawé are the fathers of guaraná: 'Without the Sateré-Mawé, there would be no guaraná'.

In 2020, Sateré-Mawé's guaraná was awarded a 'Brazilian origin' certification, the first and only certification ever awarded to an indigenous community in the country. It creates an exclusive brand that helps Sateré-Mawé promote its name to the world.

In the field of guaraná production in Brazil, only the Sateré-Mawé people still carry out the entire process by hand. The rest of the farmers have industrialized.