Health Benefits From Drinking Yerba Mate Tea

There are many positive effects of yerbe mate tea drinking that have been observed by

consumers, and further confirmed in scientific studies. The positive effects listed below have been directly or indirectly attributed to drinking yerba mate infusions.

Induces Mental Clarity - Yerba mate has the ability to quicken the mind and increase mental alertness and acuity. Yerba mate also provides sustainable energy due to its complex combination of xanthine alkaloids and caffeine. Although its caffeine content is comparable to coffee, the stimulation is balanced by yerba mate’s nutritional content.  Clinical studies have shown that caffeine-sensitive individuals generally have very positive results and don’t experience the hard side effects (jitters, stomach discomfort, headache) commonly associated with caffeine.

Sustains Energy Levels/Reduce Fatigue -Yerba mate is a central nervous system

stimulant. The metabolic effects of mate appear to include the ability to maintain aerobic

breakdown of carbohydrates during exercise for long periods of time. As a result, more

calories are burned, thereby increasing cardiac efficiency and delaying the build-up of

lactic acid. Additionally, mate’s blend of xanthine alkaloids: caffeine, theophylline and

theobromine, provide sustaining energy.

Aids in Weight Control - For many years now, physicians in Europe have been

incorporating yerba mate in treatments for obesity. In 2000, a research team studying

obesity at the Charlottenlund Medical Center in Denmark tested an herbal preparation of

Yerba Maté, Guarana, and Damiana (YGD) for gastric emptying and subsequent weight

loss. They concluded that the herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed

gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced

significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health

care context. In addition, maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context

resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. Guayaki

recommends that the product be used as part of a program that includes a healthy diet

and sufficient exercise.

Aids in Elimination -The indigenous of South America traditionally use yerba mate to

treat gastrointestinal disorders as eupeptic and choleretic agent. Research conducted by

a team at Catedra de Farmacologia in Buenos Aires, Argentina found that yerba mate

does in fact induce an increase in bile flow and enhance intestinal transit.

Fights Bad Breath - Polyphenols found in tea and yerba mate teas have been shown to

prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria’s

production of odorous compounds.