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Yerba Maté - Yerba Maté (mah-TAY) is a South American herb that has won many admirers in wide-ranging parts of the world. In the search for a natural stimulant devoid of side effects and toxicity, Maté currently holds the most hope. While eliminating fatigue, Yerba Maté stimulates mental and physical activity and has a beneficial effect on nerves and muscles. Yerba Maté's stimulant action lasts longer than that of caffeine and does not have side effects such as insomnia and irritability. Yerba Maté also contains polyphenols and saponins, a group of phytochemicals that act as powerful antioxidants . Saponins are phytochemicals that have been found to specifically stimulate the immune system and aid the body in protecting against disease. |
Yerba maté, like coffee and tea, is considered safe by the FDA, and is on their GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. Consumed is moderation, maté is recognized as one of the most healthful natural beverages on earth!
Yerba Maté Provides a Wealth of Nutrients. Each infusion of Maté contains - Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B... Complex Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc... Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid, and 15 Amino Acids.
In addition, results from a study done by researchers at the University of Madrid assert a high content of mineral elements, especially K, Mg, and Mn, in maté. They considered those findings “to be of great relevance” to the nutritional value of maté infusions.
Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Research: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Bile Stimulant, Stimulant, Thermogenic (increases fat burning), Vasodilator, Aids In Weight Loss, Induces Mental Clarity.
Diabetic Treatment -Yerba maté has been shown to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), with an effect comparable to that of two pharmaceutical grade AGE inhibitor drugs. The formation of AGEs plays a part in the development of diabetic complications.
Fights Bad Breath - Polyphenols found in tea and yerba maté have been shown to prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria’s production of odorous compounds.
Aids in Weight Loss - For many years now, physicians in Europe have been incorporating yerba maté 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.
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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. Other Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Traditional Use: Anti-allergy, antidepressant, appetite suppressant, blood cleanser, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), central nervous system stimulant, digestive stimulant, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), nervine (balances/calms nerves), neurasthenic (reduces nerve pain), neuroprotective (protects brain cells), purgative (strong laxative). |
From reports of personal experience with mate, its physiological effects are similar to—yet distinct from—more widespread caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea. Users report a mental state of wakefulness, focus and alertness reminiscent of most stimulants, but often remark on mate's unique lack of the negative effects typically created by other such compounds, such as anxiety, diarrhea, "jitteriness," and heart palpitations.
Reasons for mate's unique physiological attributes are beginning to emerge in scientific research. Studies of mate, though very limited, have shown prelimary evidence that the mate xanthine cocktail is different from other plants containing caffeine most significantly in its effects on muscle tissue, as opposed to those on the central nervous system, which are similar to those of other natural stimulants. Mate has been shown to have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue, and a stimulating effect on myocardial (heart) tissue.
Mate's negative effects are anecdotally claimed to be of a lesser degree than those of caffeine, though no explanation for this is offered or even credibly postulated, except for its potential as a placebo effect. Many users report that drinking yerba mate does not prevent them from being able to fall asleep, as is often the case with some more common stimulating beverages, while still enhancing their energy and ability to remain awake at will. However, the net amount of caffeine in one preparation of yerba mate is typically quite high, in large part because the repeated filling of the mate with hot water is able to extract the highly-soluble xanthines extremely effectively. It is for this reason that one mate may be shared among several people and yet produce the desired stimulating effect in all of them.