The Many Health Benefits of Yerba Mate
You’re familiar with coffee and tea, and maybe even chai, but have you heard of yerba mate? Yerba mate is an evergreen plant, which grows in various countries in South America including Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Yerba mate is made by infusing the dry leaves in hot water, much like making tea. It has a very interesting and unique flavor, rather like grass or hay. Some people compare it to green tea and others say it tastes like herbal. Regardless, unlike other beverages it doesn’t become bitter if it’s steeped too long.
But why drink this unique beverage? Let’s take a look at twelve yerba mate health benefits.
1. Yerba mate contains caffeine, a known stimulant. This can be just the ticket to help you maintain focus throughout the day.
2. Weight Loss. Yerba mate has also been said to increase metabolism and suppress appetite. This is likely due to the caffeine.
3. Vitamins and minerals. Yerba mate contains B vitamins, which are good for the skin and for managing stress. It also contains various minerals and fifteen amino acids.
4. Antioxidants. One of the major benefits of yerba mate is that it’s a great source of antioxidants. It contains eleven polyphenols, which can help prevent cancer and help protect against cellular destruction.
5. Gentle on your stomach. Unlike coffee, yerba mate is much easier on your stomach lining and gastrointestinal system.
6. Diuretic. Yerba mate is also said to be a diuretic, a gentle one, which means it helps reduce your body’s retention of fluids.
7. Digestion and elimination. Some believe that yerba mate improves digestion, softens stools and stimulates your intestines to eliminate, thus avoiding constipation.
8. Diabetes – Yerba mate has been shown to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products, which is thought to play a role in the development of complications from diabetes.
9. Cholesterol – A study has been conducted which showed LDL oxidation is inhibited by ingredients in yerba mate.
10. Allergies – Yerba mate has been shown to reduce the severity of some allergies, particularly pollen allergies, by stimulating your adrenal glands to suppress inflammation.
11. Immune Booster – The phytochemicals in yerba mate, called saponins, along with the antioxidants are said to help your body fight disease and strengthen your immune system.
12. Beat Bad Breath – The polyphenols in yerba mate have been shown to prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth, which is often the cause for bad breath.
While yerba mate has been consumed in other countries for centuries, it’s only recently made its way into North America and into traditional supermarkets and grocery stores. If you’re looking for a hot beverage without the side effects of coffee and perhaps with a different taste than tea, consider yerba mate.
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Yerba mate does not have caffeine, as we tend to think of caffeine. To be more precise, it has mateine. As I understand it, the caffeine is blocked by so many nutrients, it forms a new molecule–mateine, which is why drinking yerba mate may feel as if there is caffeine, but minus the negative effects of caffeine. Caffeine and mateine are similar, but not identical.