Next Level Softdrinks

Great taste with a clear conscience. No sugar, no chemicals & hardly any calories!

Guarana – superfood for long periods of focus

Jun 12, 2023

By Marie-Christin Schaarschmidt

Guaraná – Superfood für lange Fokusphasen - Just Legends

Gentle and strong performance boost, ideal alternative to coffee and secret recipe of the indigenous peoples: the superfood Guaraná at a glance.

Table of contents

1. What is Guarana?

2. How much caffeine does Guarana have?

3. Is guarana better than coffee? And how does Guarana work?

4. Does guarana have side effects?

5. Must-Knows

6. Sources

1. What is Guarana?

Guarana is a tropical plant that grows primarily in South America. The name is inspired by the South American indigenous people, Guarani, who have always used the caffeinated seeds of the guarana bush as a stimulant and energy source.

In our country, guarana powder or extract is a popular ingredient in chewing gum, sodas and energy drinks. Rightly so, we think: the natural caffeine in the guarana seeds packs a punch and is gentle at the same time. How it works? You will find out as the text progresses.

By the way, pure guarana usually has a bitter taste. That's exactly why it's often mixed with soda or other sugary drinks. It tastes good, but it's not particularly healthy. Especially not when gaming: sugar + sitting for long periods rarely makes you look good. That's why our performance milkshakes don't contain any more sugar than necessary.

They provide 197 mg of natural caffeine from Guarana per shake. Without added sugar, but with many important vitamins. Creamy consistency and the best taste like iced coffee or salted caramel are a matter of honor. :-)

BTW: Our milkshakes aren't just awesome on their own. Iced Coffe Frappé, Mocha Frappé, Nutella Milkshake or would you rather Crunchy Vanilla Hazelnut? Tastes just like it sounds. How do we know this? Simply because we tried it. Here are the results and recipes:

2. How much caffeine does Guarana have?

As with all natural products, the caffeine content of guarana can vary slightly. With around 4-8% caffeine, Guarana is considered one of the most caffeine-rich plants in the world. For comparison: Coffee only has around half as much caffeine at around 1.25 - 2.5%.

How much caffeine can you consume per day?

Approximately 5.7 mg of caffeine per kilo of body weight is the guideline for the maximum daily caffeine intake for healthy people. On average, this means around 400 - 500 mg of caffeine daily. The recommended maximum amount per serving is 200 mg of protein.

For our Just Legends performance products we only use natural caffeine from the guarana plant. The Performance Booster provides you with 126 mg of caffeine per serving and is a real kick for full focus that you can drink up to three times a day. The Just Legends Performance Milkshake contains 197 mg of natural caffeine. After 2 shakes a day it's over, sorry!

Important: Different values apply for children, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and people with high blood pressure or heart disease depending on their individual condition. If any of this applies to you, it is best to discuss your caffeine intake with a doctor.

3. Is guarana better than coffee? And how does Guarana work?

Both owe their effect to the caffeine they contain. This wakes you up, stimulates the central nervous system and stimulates blood circulation. Activating the cardiovascular system has positive side effects such as better blood circulation, reduced pain and more focus. These secondary effects are due to the caffeine it contains and its effects.

In addition to caffeine, guarana also contains theophillyn and theobromine. These are herbal compounds that are also supposed to support focus. So that’s what Guarana has ahead of coffee. Basically, the effects of coffee and guarana are comparable. You can decide for yourself which is better.

What are the differences between guarana and coffee?

#1 Guarana works slower.

The caffeine in guarana is not freely available, but is bound to tannins - vegetable tannins - and fiber. That's why the body takes longer to release the guarana. Instead of a blatant energy kick with an equally quick energy drop, you gradually become more awake and focused. On average, Guarana develops its full effect after around 30-45 minutes.

#2 Guarana works longer.

If caffeine is released more slowly, it will take longer to be used up. Added to this is the higher caffeine content. That's why the effects of Guarana last up to 6 hours.

#3 Guarana contains antioxidants.

The tannins not only ensure that the caffeine is released more slowly, but also have an antioxidant effect. Since blue lights and fast shooters can be a bit more stressful, it certainly doesn't hurt when gaming.

#4 Guarana is gentler on the stomach lining.

If you want to enjoy gaming for as long as possible, it makes sense to pay attention to your eye health. This also includes a few measures against the gamer eye.

The slower release of caffeine and less acidity than coffee are gentle on your stomach. The saponins it contains also support the gastrointestinal tract. That's why guarana is usually better tolerated than coffee.

For these reasons, the energy kick from guarana feels different than that from coffee. Aside from that, there are studies that have observed many other positive effects of guarana. These include, for example, a fever-lowering and performance-enhancing effect, as well as the reduction of hunger and thirst thanks to the alkaloids and fats it contains.

However, these observations have not yet been scientifically proven and verified and should therefore not be understood as an unequivocal effect of Guarana.

4. Does guarana have side effects?

Not if you stick to the maximum daily consumption amount. Just as too much sugar, fat and even too many vitamins have side effects, an overdose of caffeine is also unhealthy - whether from coffee or guarana.

Excessive caffeine consumption causes performance to drop: Difficulty concentrating, headaches, tremors, sleep disorders and palpitations can result. But, you can relax: Both our performance milkshakes and our performance boosters come with a measuring spoon and clear consumption instructions. If you stick to it, you'll be on the safe side and you'll still have room for 1-2 coffees in your daily caffeine account.

Can you become addicted to guarana?

The same applies here: Not if you consume wisely. If overdosed on a sustained basis, caffeine can become addictive. We believe: You can't drink that many milkshakes.

If you are unsure, calculate how much caffeine is appropriate for you each day. You can get your personal maximum caffeine requirement by multiplying 5.7 mg of caffeine by your body weight. If you now consider that you don't drink more than about 200 mg of caffeine at once, you should be safe. Of course, as with all health issues, the following applies here: If you are unsure, speak to a doctor.

5. Must-Knows

Guarana is a Brazilian plant from whose caffeinated seeds guarana powder is obtained.
The caffeine from guarana powder works more slowly than the caffeine from coffee, but lasts up to 6 hours.
Guarana is often better tolerated than coffee.