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You may not have heard of it, but yerba mate is a South American drink that is the hottest new trend in medicinal herbal teas. Made from the leaves and stems of the Ilex paraguariensis plant that are dried over a fire and then steeped in hot water to make tea, yerba mate is traditionally served in a gourd and sipped through a filtering metal straw, according to Healthline. No guard, no problem. You can also make it in a French press.
This popular drink has as much caffeine as coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the joy of hot chocolate. You can drink it hot or cold but you should limit your intake to 400 milligrams a day and avoid drinking anything else with caffeine.
Yerba mate has been used in natural healing and alternative medicine in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil, according to Health. But check with your physician before using any medicinal herbs, especially if pregnant or nursing. Here are five confirmed health benefits of drinking yerba mate:
Contains powerful antioxidants
Yerba mate is full of beneficial plant compounds including xanthines (that include caffeine) and are found in coffee, tea, and chocolate, explained Healthline. Other powerful antioxidants are caffeoyl derivatives, saponins, and polyphenols. Antioxidants help stave off cell oxidation and protect you from the risk of chronic diseases. Yerba mate contains similar antioxidants as those found in green tea.
The herbal tea also contains other micronutrients including vitamin C, vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, as well as important minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. But the nutrient amounts are not that large so you must still eat a complete diet.
Could boost energy and focus
With 80 mgs of caffeine per cup, yerba mate contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee but without the jitters that some people get from consuming coffee. It follows that like any other caffeinated beverages or food, the herbal tea could increase your energy levels. Caffeine can also help improve alertness, attention, and mental focus. The caffeine can also enhance physical performance by improving muscle contractions, and reducing fatigue.
Supports heart health
Yerba mate’s strong antioxidants could help protect you from heart disease. Drinking the medicinal tea may also lower your cholesterol levels. A 2019 study of 119 women between the ages of 25 and 50 found that daily consumption of yerba mate led to decreases in total and bad LDL cholesterol. The medicinal tea also reduced triglyceride levels when paired with a healthy diet.
Could improve bone density
There is evidence that yerba mate tea could help prevent osteoporosis – a disease that can cause bone fractures – by increasing bone density, reported Health. This is very important for women who are perimenopausal or menopausal whose bodies produce less estrogen which can weaken bones and lead to osteoporosis.
Good for diabetics
Yerba mate could help lower blood sugar levels and reduce some of the complications of diabetes. In a 2011 randomized clinical trial of people with type 2 diabetes, the participants who consumed 11 ounces of the herbal tea three times a day had much lower levels of fasting blood sugar as well as hemoglobin A1c; a marker of longer-term sugar control.
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