9 Yerba Mate Health Benefits & Ways to Make Yerba Mate Tea

A traditional South American drink having the strength of coffee, health benefits of tea and provide the joy of chocolate, and that is now gaining its popularity worldwide; is Yerba Mate. In this current article, we will talk about some of the health benefits of Yerba mate. Hope this would prove beneficial for you.

Yerba mate is a herbal tea that is prepared from twigs and leaves of a plant called Ilex paraguariensis. Tegh tea is made by drying off the leaves of the plant generally with fire and then steeped in hot water for making the Yerba mate tea. Traditionally, Yerba mate is consumed from a container called as “Gourd” and sipped with a metal straw that has a filter at its lower end so as to strain out the leaf fragments.

One of the best benefits of yerba mate is that it contains several beneficial plant nutrients and antioxidants in it. Yerba mate is believed to have more antioxidants than standard green tea.

Yerba mate has plenty of essential plant nutrients like Xanthines, Caffeoyl derivates, Saponins and Polyphenols. Xanthines are natural compounds which act as stimulants and include theobromine and Caffeine. Caffeoyl derivates are the compounds that are the primary health-promoting antioxidants in the tea. Saponins, are bitter compounds having certain anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties; while Polyphenols is a large group of antioxidants that is known to reduce the rsik of several diseases. Apart from this, Yerba mate may also contain 7 out of 9 essential amino acids and also contain almost every vitamin and mineral that your body requires. However, Yerba mate tea contains very small amounts of these nutrients, and thus it is unlikely to make a large contribution to your diet on its own.

Yerba mate is also beneficial in enhancing your energy. It has the ability to increase your energy levels and make you feel less tired. A cup of yerba mate has less than 80 mg of caffeine which is lower than a cup of coffee and slightly higher than tea. Thus, it works in improving energy just like any other caffeinated food or beverage.

Mental health is also improved with yerba mate. Caffeine found in the tea can affect the levels of certain signaling molecules in our brain, thus making it particularly beneficial for the mental focus or concentration. Additionally, regular consumers of yerba mate often opine that it improves alertness just like coffee even though there is no scientific evidence of such.

Yerba mate is also beneficial because it may enhance the physical performance of the consumer. Caffeine is also known to boost muscle contractions, reduce fatigue and improve physical performance. As Yerba mate has caffeine in moderation people consuming this can have effects that are quite similar to caffeine.

As a matter of fact, a study was done recently to check the effects of Yerba Mate on healthy males and females and the study showed that individuals given a gram of Yerba mate through capsules just before workouts ended up burning 25% more fat while doing moderate-intensity workouts. A higher reliance on fat for fuel, during exercise spares your carbohydrate reserves for critical high-intensity moments, such as, cycling uphill or sprinting towards the finish line. This could translate into a better physical or sports performance.

Another health benefit of yerba mate is that it protects against infections from bacteria, fungi and parasites. Another study showed that taking high doses of yerba mate extract eliminated E.coli bacteria responsible for causing food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramps. The study also showed that there are compounds present in yerba mate that prevent growth of a fungus responsible for conditions like scaly skin, dandruff, and skin rashes named Malassezia furfur. Moreover, research also suggests that there are some compounds present in yerba mate that prevents the stomach from intestinal parasites.

One more health benefit of yerba mate is that, it is essential for weight loss and also for reducing belly fat. Animal studies have shown that yerba mate decreases appetite and enhances metabolism, which ultimately results in weight loss. It seems to reduce the total number of fat cells and reduces the quantity of fat they hold. Human research suggests that yerba mate can also increase the amount of stored fat that is burned for energy.

Yerba mate may also lower the risk of heart disease. It contains antioxidant compounds like polyphenols which are quite beneficial in protection against cardiac conditions. Certain animal and cell studies also report that yerba mate extract may provide some protection against heart diseases. In humans, yerba mate is also shown to decrease levels of bad cholesterol.

More studies are essential before strong conclusion on this can be reached.

There is another health benefit of yerba mate. It may also help in lowering the blood sugar levels and also help in reducing the complications often seen in diabetes. In fact, a recent study reports that yerba mate improved insulin absorption in studied animals. It may also prevent the formation of the Advanced glycation end-products or AGEs, which are involved in the development and worsening of several diseases. However, still more research is required to prove this.

Yerba mate is also known to be enhancing the function of immune system of our body. It contains Saponins, which are natural compounds having anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from this, yerba mate also contains small amounts of Vitamin E, C, Zinc, and Selenium. These powerful antioxidants strengthen the immune system and promote overall health of individuals. However, researchers have not yet investigated the direct efforts of yerba mate on the human immune system.

To prepare yerba mate tea; fill the bottom third of the container or Gourd, with dried or toasted yerba mate leaves, prior to adding hot water. The yerba mate tea can be taken with burnt sugar, milk, or lemon juice for added taste. Once a batch of tea is prepared, you can remake it by adding water and you do not have to prepare tea with fresh leaves all the time.

With all the above mentioned health benefits of yerba mate, it must be exciting enough for you to try this special healthy tea. So, why wait anymore? Go, get prepared to experience the benefits of yerba mate.