All About Yerba Mate
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba Mate is a small perennial tree that grows natively in the subtropical highlands of South America, in countries like Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. It is an evergreen tree that belongs in the Holly family. The plant was first cultivated by the native Guarani people of central South America. The plant is made into tea by brewing the dried leaves and stems. Yerba Mate made into tea is consumed by millions of South Americans as a healthier alternative to coffee. The plant is gaining international recognition as a wonder drink because of its numerous reported health benefits.
The Yerba Mate or “Ilex paraguariensis” grows up to 15 meters in height. The leaves of the tree are evergreen and about 9 cm long and 4 cm wide. Because of its reputation as a health drink it has been labeled as “The Drink of the Gods” by the native people of South America. The name Yerba Mate is pronounced “Yer-bah Mah-Tey” not “mate” as in “checkmate”. Separately, the leaves of the tree are called simply “Yerba” which means herb. The small tree also produces green or white flowers that develop into a red drupe that is 5 mm in diameter.
The leaves and stems of Yerba Mate are trees main part of interest. They are harvested and sold commercially while some are processed into health supplements to be sold online. The leaves contain caffeine similar to coffee. The yerba mate tea when consumed imparts similar benefits gained from drinking roasted coffee bean like being energetic and gaining mental alertness but without the jittering and nervousness. The yerba mate tea also bested the coffee in terms of nutrient content. Yerba mate contains more amino acids, vitamins and powerful antioxidants than the coffee bean. Other helpful chemicals include: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Theophylline, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid, 15 Amino Acids and vitamins A, C, E, Riboflavin, Niacin, Thiamin, Pantothenic acid.
Yerba mate has a slightly bitter flavor due to the huge amounts of tannin derived from the leaves. Yerba mate products that contain more plant stem content will taste slightly bitter than products that have higher leaf content. But just like coffee the flavor of pure yerba mate is an acquired taste. While people might be drawn to sweeter tea, native South Americans might consider it unthinkable to add artificial sweeteners as it takes away yerba mate’s own unique flavor, you wouldn’t ask Germans to put sugar in their beer would you? While it’s ok to add your choice of flavorings, drinking the raw yerba mate tea will prove to be healthier because adding sweeteners and artificial flavors might also add unhealthy chemicals. Plus the aim of the yerba mate is to be a health supplement not a source of diabetes.
Why Take Yerba Mate?
Why take yerba mate? Besides its obvious advantage over regular coffee, the yerba mate provides a list of benefits normally only acquired by buying expensive specialized supplements. Yerba mate has been used for hundreds of years as a tonic but now its potential is harnessed into a health supplement available to all.
• Improves Fat Reduction
Drinking Yerba mate tea will make an individual’s metabolism rate increase. This will allow for stored fat in the body to be utilized as energy for those hard working cells. This allows the fat to, as supplement spokespersons would say be “Burned Away”. The Yerba mate’s efficacy as an aid to weight loss has been clinically tested with one study in Switzerland in 1999 yielding promising results.
•Minimize Depression and Anxiety
The act of drinking tea alone will contribute in lowering ones anxiety and stress. The warmth of the drink provides a relaxing feeling that quickly spreads throughout the body. The aroma also gives a pleasant and inviting drinking experience. The Yerba mate will seal the deal by providing right amounts of caffeine to lower ones anxiety. The energizing effect that the tea provides, reverses the effects of fatigue which is a common symptom and factor to depression.
• Clears the Body of Toxins
The yerba mate has antioxidant that prolongs the life of cells making good use of them in clearing the body of toxins. Antioxidants also provide a cleaning effect in the body’s organs like the kidney which is a very important part of the body that filters the blood of unhealthy substances. A clean blood stream makes an individual have a feeling of well-being.
• Treats Headaches and Provides Mental Alertness
Treating headaches by drinking yerba mate tea has been one of its traditional uses over the centuries. Headaches that are the result of over fatigue are excellently treated by the yerba mate. The relaxing effect previously stated takes part in relieving headaches. Like drinking coffee, drinking yerba mate tea makes the mind focused and awake, making the yerba mate tea an excellent drink early in the morning or just after waking up.
• Promotes a Healthier Heart
The Yerba mate has been used as a way to strengthen the heart. The yerba mate contains a substance called Theophylline; this chemical is used medically to stimulate the heart muscle making sure it’s in top condition. You don’t want your heart dying on you.
• Strengthens the Immune System
Drinking Yerba mate tea gives the body an extra shield against infections and diseases. The leaves and stem contains Saponins which makes the immune system stronger. Including yerba mate in your diet might just save you from a lot of aggravations like getting seriously sick to paying expensive medical bills.
• Anti-Allergy
Another unhealthy condition yerba mate can help you get rid of are allergies, especially those related to the sinus. Sinusitis is usually caused by allergens in the surroundings.
• Healthier Colon
The Native Guarani of South America traditionally use yerba mate to fix gastrointestinal disorders and to promote a healthier digestion. A Research done by a group of specialists in Buenos Aires, Argentina concluded that yerba mate has the ability to stimulate an increase in bile flow in the intestines and to aid in proper bowel movement.
• Reduce Hypertension
If you suffer from high blood pressure then drinking yerba mate will help you reduce your hypertension bringing it down to healthy levels. A chemical in the yerba mate relaxes the muscles that aid in transporting blood and helps the blood to flow more easily.
