Guarana and cellulite: what we know about this plant

When it comes to cellulite, you’ve probably come across plenty of plants already. Guarana is one of them: a South American plant often found in dietary supplements, particularly those marketed with cellulite in mind. Where does it come from, what does it contain, what is it really credited with, and how can you take it without overdoing it? 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. 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 known for its exceptionally high concentration of caffeine (sometimes referred to as guaranine, though its molecular composition is identical). It is the plant with the highest caffeine content in the plant kingdom, at around 2 to 8%. Here are the main compounds linked to this high caffeine content:

• Caffeine: guarana is very rich in it. This is worth bearing in mind if you’re sensitive to its effects, for instance during periods of stress.
• Paraxanthine: one of the compounds derived from caffeine, often mentioned in connection with lipolysis (the metabolism of lipids).
• Pharmaceutical uses: caffeine and theophylline, a related compound, are used as ingredients in certain medicines.
• Theobromine: another caffeine-related compound, also found in guarana.

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 mainly characterised by their ability to absorb water (they’re known as soluble fibres). When they come into contact with a liquid, they form a viscous gel. They’re often mentioned in connection with bowel transit or the absorption of dietary fats.
• Guarana is also rich in polyphenols.
• Finally, guarana seeds contain vitamins (A, E, B1, B3) and trace elements.

Guarana and cellulite: what is it credited with?

Cellulite, or superficial lipodystrophy, results from an abnormal build-up of fat and water 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).

Rich in caffeine, guarana is often mentioned in connection with cellulite. Here’s what you need to know, without treating it as a solution:

• Its caffeine: guarana contains a lot of it, which is something to be mindful of rather than a plus.
• The theobromine it contains, a molecule from the same family as caffeine. To understand the link between water and cellulite, read our article on water retention.

Bear in mind, though, that no plant makes cellulite disappear, and guarana is no exception: the appearance of orange-peel skin depends on many factors, and these supposed properties are no substitute for a balanced lifestyle.

Which other plants are often mentioned?

Guarana isn’t the only plant associated with orange-peel skin. It often appears alongside other botanicals, such as green tea, red vine, cherry stem or papaya, in certain dietary supplement or drink formulas.

Here too, none of these plants will make cellulite disappear on its own. If you do take them, always stick to the recommended dose and ask a healthcare professional for advice if you’re unsure.

How can you take guarana?

Guarana should be consumed in moderation. While it is often mentioned in connection with stubborn dimples, the caffeine it contains is not without side effects: palpitations and other heart rhythm disturbances, poor-quality sleep, behavioural changes (irritability, anxiety, stress), tremors, and stomach complaints (heartburn, acidity, 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 take guarana, you’ll find it in the following forms:

• Dietary supplements: guarana is frequently used in tablets and capsules marketed as anti-cellulite. This is the case with our Anti-Cellulite Capsules, which combine guarana, green tea, cherry stem and red vine. Some drainers also contain guarana powder (to find out more, see how drainers work), including our 3-in-1 Cellulite Drainer, made with 98.3% naturally derived ingredients such as guarana, green tea, papaya and ulvaline.
• Drinks: guarana is an additive found in many beverages, including energy drinks. However, these are often very high in sugar. Guarana powder can also be used in homemade drinks, for example in green smoothies (simply add a spoonful of guarana seed powder to your blender), or just stirred into water, green tea or maté.
• Food: guarana powder can also be added to your recipes, such as soups, bread doughs, cake batters and more.

Related articles

• Spirulina: What You Need to Know About This Microalga
• Cellulite and natural approaches: what to know

Useful categories: Anti-Cellulite Supplements, Anti-Cellulite Solutions.