Yerba Mate Benefits
Yerba mate benefits the mind and body. Yerba mate or mate as it is often called is traditionally consumed in the central and southern regions of South America, where it is often a social event to drink mate.
Yerba Mate Benefits – The Social Aspect
It’s not unusual to see people walking down the street sipping mate while carrying a thermos of hot water to refresh their drink. When you are asked to share mate with someone, it is a sign of friendship and bonding.
Yerba Mate Benefits – A Physical Impact
Yerba mate is made from the dried leaves of the evergreen holly, a plant native to South America. Due to the high quantity of polyphenols found in mate, many health promoting claims have been made about it. Studies have concluded that Yerba mate benefits include improved allergy symptoms, reduced risk of diabetes mellitus and high blood sugar in mice.
Yerba Mate Benefits – A Weight Loss Tool
Mate also acts as an appetite suppressant and could be effective as a weight loss tool. It increases energy expenditure, improves insulin sensitivity, and burns stored fat. Athletes have been known to use it to enhance physical performance. This tea has been shown to increases mental energy and focus, improves mood, and promotes deeper sleep. Yerba mate benefits include being used as a digestive aid, its use as a general nerve tonic for pain, fatigue, and depression.
With a powerful nutrient profile Yerba mate benefits the body. It is said to have the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate all in one beverage. That is a big claim; lets look more deeply at the benefits and side effects of consuming Yerba mate.
Yerba Mate Benefits – A Powerful Mood Enhancer
Providing gentle, clean and calm energy replacing your morning coffee with Yerba mate will bring about alert wakefulness with out the jitters or crash often associated with coffee. Mate stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain which is the cause for increased motivation and productivity.
Yerba Mate Benefits – Nutritional Impact
Each serving of mate contains the following vitamins and minerals:
•vitamin A
•vitamin C
•vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5
•vitamin E
•calcium
•iron
•magnesium
•manganese
•phosphorus
•potassium
•selenium
•sodium
•sulfur
•zinc
This doesn’t include the beneficial phytonutrient tannins, trace minerals, chlorophyll, flavonols, polyphenols, and 15 amino acids. The polyphenols in Yerba mate exhibit more antioxidant power than any other tea-based drink. These potent antioxidant compounds protect the cardiovascular system as the theobromine in mate relaxes the blood vessels allowing for better flow.
Yerba Mate Benefits – Boost Your Immune System
Yerba mate is high in compounds called saponins which boost the immune system. These natural anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to be useful for treating bladder infections. This compound is also helpful in modulating an overactive immune system. Helpful in treating constipation, diarrhea, indigestion and parasites it’s natural antibacterial properties fight against E. coli, one of the most common causes of food poisoning. It’s also useful for both preventing and treating bladder and kidney stones.
Yerba Mate Benefits – Enjoy A Cup Today
Traditionally, you would drink Yerba mate out of hallowed out gourds packed with the loose leaves. Leisurly you would sip the mate through a “bombilla”, a special metallic drinking straw. The easiest way to get started is using Yerba mate tea bags and drinking it out of a regular mug. Some find the taste earthy, like grass. The tea can be diluted so that you can build your way up to a stronger cup. Add some honey to your mate to make the taste more palatable.