The Health Benefits of Guayusa Plant You Need to Know About

Guayusa is a holly tree found in the Amazon rainforest and the leaves have been harvested for many years due to the several health benefits it has to offer.

Ecuador is one of the bigger suppliers of Guayusa leaf products and Ecuadorians have been soaking up the health benefits for years.

How Can I Consume It?

The most popular way to consume Guayusa is via tea, as the leaves are harvested, dried, and used to make a smooth and tasty herbal tea. You can also buy it in powder and extract form, and it is even an ingredient being used in energy drinks.

With the increase of plant-based diets, more and more people have been discovering the plentiful benefits associated with the Guayusa plant.

So, what are the health benefits of the Guayusa plant?

It Can Improve Mood

First and foremost Guayusa tea can improve your mood as it contains theobromine, which is an alkaloid linked to the likening of food. It also has similar amounts of caffeine to coffee. As caffeine is a stimulant, this mixed with theobromine leads to improved moods. As a side note, there was a study on 20 adults that found the combination of caffeine and theobromine found in Guayusa can improve short-term brain functionality. So if you are someone struggling with your mood, try having a cup of Guayusa tea every morning to start your day.

It Can Improve Concentration And Productivity

Guayusa is famous for its ability to improve concentration, focus, and alertness. The plan has a substantial amount of caffeine that acts as a natural stimulant and source of energy. You might wonder what’s the point in drinking Guayusa tea when you could just have a cup of coffee, but coffee doesn’t have nearly the amount of nutrients and antioxidants that Guayusa has! It also releases caffeine in a way that doesn’t give you the jitters, shakes, or agitation that coffee can sometimes do. Particularly for those with anxiety drinking a cup of Guayusa tea will be far more effective for improving your concentration and productivity than a cup of coffee.

It Is Full Of Antioxidants

The Guayusa plant is packed full of a variety of antioxidants, which help to remove harmful oxidants in your body. By doing so, it helps to reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. More specifically, Guayusa contains a group of polyphenol antioxidants called catechins. The catechins have been associated with protecting against heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, and certain cancers.

It might come as a surprise to some of you, but according to Athletes Brew Guayusa actually contains 50x the antioxidant capacity of green tea! So it makes sense why more and more people are choosing Guayusa over energy drinks and coffee.

It Supports Blood Sugar Health

While research is limited, the studies that have been conducted so far show that consuming Guayusa consistently for 30 days can help stabilize blood sugar levels. The exact reason for this is still uncertain. The research on this is promising, however, it is important to note that the studies have been conducted on animals, and no human research has been conducted yet.

The 30-day study was conducted using non-diabetic mice and they found that consumption of Guayusa led to a significant decrease in blood sugar levels, a reduction of body weight, and a decreased appetite.

It Helps With Weight Loss

Guayusa has been associated with aiding weight loss as its caffeine content helps to boost metabolism. A faster working metabolism increases the number of calories that you burn. Alongside this, drinking Guayusa tea has been found to decrease appetite, so if you are someone who is dieting at the moment and struggling with hunger levels, just try having a cup of Guayusa tea when that hunger strikes!

Vivid Dreaming

This may seem like an unusual point to make when considering health benefits, but for some people dreaming is an important part of staying in touch with their emotions. Drinking Guayusa tea or consuming the leaves helps you dream more vividly, as well as be more likely to remember them too.

The Guayusa plant is a very unique one, and it is not often that you find a plant that boasts so many varying health benefits. Whether you decide to drink it in tea form or to eat the dried leaves, your mind and body will certainly be thanking you later!