When it comes to cellulite, you’ve tried just about everything — yet those stubborn dimples always seem to come back. What if plants could help you fight orange-peel skin? Guarana, a South American plant celebrated for its slimming and anti-cellulite properties, is well worth a closer look. Curious to find out more? Let’s head straight to the Amazon.
What is guarana?
Origins of the plant
Guarana is actually a climbing vine native to the Brazilian Amazon, which produces red berries whose seeds are used for their active properties. These seeds are ground into a powder, which is then used to make drinks and dietary supplements. It is classified as a food additive and widely used in energy products and those designed for weight loss. Traditionally, Amazonian peoples consumed guarana seed powder — with its characteristically bitter taste — as a stimulant or psychoactive substance.
Properties of guaranine
Guarana is primarily defined by its exceptionally high concentration of caffeine (sometimes referred to as guaranine, though its molecular composition is identical) — making it the plant with the highest caffeine content in the plant kingdom, ranging from 2 to 8%. Guarana powder therefore benefits from a range of properties directly linked to this high caffeine content:
- Stimulating effect: physical stimulation — improved endurance, greater resistance to stress and fatigue — as well as mental stimulation, including enhanced memory and memorisation skills, sharper concentration, and faster cognitive development.
- Lipolytic effect: paraxanthine, one of the three isomers that make up the caffeine alkaloid, is recognised for boosting lipolysis (accelerating lipid metabolism), thereby supporting weight loss.
- Analgesic action: caffeine has been shown to noticeably ease pain. It is widely used by the pharmaceutical industry to relieve headaches, dental pain, menstrual cramps, and post-operative discomfort.
- Mild diuretic and vasodilator: theobromine, another isomer within the caffeine molecule, is known to support kidney activity (diuresis) and promote a slight dilation of blood vessels.
- Bronchodilator: theophylline, the final isomer found in the caffeine molecule, is commonly used to treat asthma, as it has the property of relaxing the smooth muscles of the lungs.
Other properties of the plant
Guarana is also rich in other active compounds:
- Guarana seed powder is packed with fibre, including mucilages and pectin. These fibres are primarily characterised by their ability to absorb water (known as soluble fibres). When they come into contact with a liquid, they form a viscous gel that helps eliminate dietary toxins as well as lipids. Soluble fibres support healthy digestion (with a mild laxative effect), help regulate blood sugar spikes, and limit the absorption of dietary fats that contribute to weight gain.
- Guarana is also a powerful antioxidant, thanks to its high polyphenol content. Regular consumption can therefore help reduce the effects of oxidative stress.
- Finally, guarana seeds are a reliable source of vitamins (A, E, B1, B3) and trace elements.
How can guarana help fight cellulite?
Cellulite, or superficial lipodystrophy, results from an abnormal accumulation of fat, water, and toxins in the deeper layers of the skin. It is driven by:
- An excess and/or abnormal multiplication of adipocytes — the cells responsible for storing and releasing fat for energy purposes.
- An abnormal build-up of water in the tissues, caused by compression of the epithelium by enlarged adipocytes.
- Sometimes a sluggish veno-lymphatic system, which leads not only to increased vessel permeability (water leaking into the tissues), but also to a build-up of waste and toxins in the tissue (as the lymphatic system is no longer performing its elimination function effectively).
Thanks to its extraordinary caffeine content, guarana can act on the various factors that contribute to cellulite:
- It helps prevent excessive fat accumulation within adipocytes by boosting the oxidation and elimination of dietary lipids.
- Its stimulating effect increases heart rate and blood pressure, gently reviving microcirculation.
- The mild diuretic effect of theobromine found in guaranine stimulates the body’s natural drainage of water, helping to counteract water retention.
As a result, incorporating guarana can help reduce the appearance of cellulite: less visible orange-peel skin, improved skin quality, reduced fat deposits, and a feeling of lightness.
How to use guarana effectively to fight cellulite?
Guarana should be consumed in moderation. While caffeine offers many benefits (including for those stubborn dimples!), it is not without side effects: palpitations and other heart rhythm disturbances, disrupted sleep, behavioural changes (irritability, anxiety, stress), tremors, and stomach complaints (heartburn, acid reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux). It is also not recommended for pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding (as it can be passed on to the baby), nor for people with high blood pressure or heart conditions (arrhythmia, bradycardia, etc.).
That said, if you’d like to incorporate guarana to help prevent or reduce cellulite, here are the main ways to use it:
- Dietary supplements: guarana is frequently used in anti-cellulite tablets and capsules . This is the case with our Anti-Cellulite Capsules, which combine the lipolytic effect of guarana and green tea with the draining action of cherry stem and red vine. Some slimming drainers and anti-cellulite formulas are also enriched with guarana powder — including our 3-in-1 Cellulite Drainer, made with 98.3% naturally derived ingredients such as guarana, green tea, papaya, and ulvaline (a true anti-cellulite powerhouse!).
- Drinks: guarana is an additive found in many beverages, including energy drinks. However, these sugar-laden drinks are harmful to health and can actually contribute to cellulite. Guarana powder can instead be used to make homemade drinks — for example, added to vegetable detox juices (simply add a spoonful of guarana seed powder to your blender), or dissolved in water, green tea , or maté.
- Food: guarana powder can also be incorporated into your recipes — soups, bread doughs, cake batters, and more.