Guayusa tea is rich in valuable and stimulating ingredients such as caffeine, l-theanine or theobromine. Many of them have an extremely positive effect on our body. We have looked at the most important ones in detail and provide answers to questions about the active ingredients of this natural stimulant.
more about the effect of Guayusa can be found here -> effects of Guayusa
list of ingredients of Guayusa
The stimulant Guayusa contains a variety of ingredients. Many of them, such as valuable antioxidants, also contain the leaves of the related mate tea. The cultivation of the Guayusa plants takes place mainly in the northern Amazon region, in Ecuador or Brazil the natural stimulant is grown by Indians in so-called forest gardens. The following active ingredients have been scientifically proven in psychoactive plants so far:
- Caffeine
- L-Theanine
- Theobromine
- Theophylline
- vitamin C
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Pyridoxine
- Chlorogenic acid
- Nicotinic acid (vitamin B3)
- Carotenoids (lutein)
- Paraxanthin
- Gallic acid
- Guanidine
- Isobutyric acid
- Choline
- Triterpenes
- Minerals
The most important active ingredients in detail
Ilex Guayusa, the technical term, is rich in positive active ingredients. The term active substance basically refers to ingredients that have an effect or cause a reaction in an organism, in this case the human body. In the following we explain the most important ingredients of Guayusa and their effect on the human organism.
caffeine
With up to 7.6% caffeine, Ilex Guayusa is probably the most caffeine-rich plant of all. Caffeine is generally considered to be a performance-enhancing, psychoactive substance and is an integral part of our culture through coffee, tea and energy drinks. The most important interactions (pharmacological effects) of caffeine are an increase in the heart rate with a simultaneous increase in the contractility of the heart, stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS) and bronchial dilatation. Depending on the dosage, the stimulating effect is more psychological (low dose, increased alertness) or physically perceptible (increased pulse). Due to the interaction with other substances, the psychoactive effect of caffeine in the Coffee Alternative Guayusa is rather gentle. There is no physical stress.
L-theanine
Like black or green tea, Guayusa is rich in l-theanine. Theanine is considered to be physically and mentally stress-reducing, the psychoactive, relaxing effect has been proven in studies on a so-called alpha wave measurement in the brain. It was also observed that consumption increases the concentration of messenger substances such as dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline in the brain, which results in a concentration-enhancing effect. It is the special combination of l-theanine and caffeine that makes the unique relaxing and stimulating effect of Guayusa tea possible.
theobromine
In addition to caffeine and L-theanine, the active ingredient theobromine is the third stimulating ingredient in Ilex Guayusa. It has a similar effect to caffeine, but is milder and the stimulating effect lasts longer. In the human body, theobromine causes vasodilation, stimulates the heart and has a relaxing effect on the muscles. As a psychotropic substance, theobromine also has an effect on the human psyche, and has been described as having a strong mood-lifting effect.
Theophylline
Theophylline is a natural substance contained in Guayusa tea, which is used as a medicinal substance mainly in the treatment of bronchial diseases (e.g. bronchial asthma). Theophylline has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles and thus dilates the bronchial tubes. It also has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, increases the performance of the heart and has a diuretic effect.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is considered an antioxidant and radical scavenger and thus has an undisputed health-promoting effect. In addition, vitamin C is involved in various processes in the body. The described antioxidative effect is also the reason for the positive effect of vitamin C on the body’s own immune system.
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2 (also riboflavin) is colloquially often called growth vitamin. The reason for this is that vitamin B2 is of central importance in various metabolic processes. For example, the vitamin plays an important role in the fat burning process.
pyridoxine
Pyridoxine belongs to the B6 vitamins and plays an important role, especially in amino acid metabolism. Studies suggest that pyridoxine has an influence on the experience of dreams. Research has shown that B6 vitamins can increase the intensity of dreams. This makes dreams more intense, colours appear more vivid and the dream is experienced more emotionally. It is assumed that pyridoxine is associated with the strong, trauma-promoting effect of Guayusa.
chlorogenic acid
The medicinal effect of chlorogenic acid has been insufficiently researched to date. However, it is considered to be an effective antioxidant. In studies this DNA-protective effect has even been observed under radioactive radiation. Another effect of chlorogenic acid is that it slows down the absorption of sugar into the blood after a meal. Accordingly, a positive effect on a desired weight loss is possible. Scientific studies also suggest that chlorogenic acid has a strong blood pressure-lowering and liver-inflammatory effect. Observations also suggest that the substance can induce programmed cell death in cancer cells.
nicotinic acid (vitamin B3)
Vitamin B3, or nicotinic acid, is a vitamin that plays an important role in various metabolic processes in the body, such as fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, it lowers the blood concentration of “bad” LDL cholesterol and increases the values of “good” HDL cholesterol.
carotenoids (lutein)
A total of five carotenoids are contained in Ilex Guayusa. They are mainly known as the dye that gives plants such as carrots or tomatoes their bright color. Among the carotenoids, lutein is the one with the highest concentration in Guayusa tea. A 2010 study found a link between taking vitamin C in combination with lutein and a reduced risk of cataracts in women.
conclusion
Ilex Guayusa is extremely rich in positive active ingredients, provided that it is organically grown. Many of these active ingredients are considered to be health-promoting and can contribute to a permanently increased well-being, especially when consumed regularly. In addition, the combination of active ingredients of these Amazon plants is extremely beneficial, stimulating and relaxing ingredients are balanced in the stimulant Guayusa. In sum, these active ingredients make Guayusa tea an ideal alternative to coffee and energy drinks.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29665762
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28188617
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorogens%C3%A4ure
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutein
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02017R2470-20180411&from=PL
