The article below will describe what yerba mate is and how it can be used.
Yerba mate is a beverage that comes from South America. It is a plant that is found in the wild, but that has also been cultivated for a long time. Yerba mate has historically been used in South America as an energizer and general tonic.
Nutrition
A lot of people have not heard about yerba mate. Yerba mate’s name in latin is Ilex paraguariensis. It is the dried leafs of the plant that are made into an energizing tea.
So one might wonder what is so special about mate. The thing with mate is that it is a beverage just like coffee and tea, but comparatively, it is super nutritious. Below is a mineral content comparison between coffee and yerba mate.
Yerba mate [1]
- K 11.35 mg/g
- Ca 7.69 mg/g
- Mg 6.99 mg/g
- P 1.37 mg/g
- Mn 0.68 mg/g
- Fe 0.12 mg/g
- Al 0.64 mg/g
- Si 0.33 mg/g
Coffee [2]
- K 0.49 mg/g
- Ca 0.02 mg/g
- Mg 0.03 mg/g
- P 0.03 mg/g
- Mn 0 mg/g
- Fe 0 mg/g
- Al –
- Si –
The numbers above might vary depending on which specific mate is being used. However, by briefly comparing the two it is possible to draw own conclusions on the nutritional content.
Energizer
Mate acts as an energizer. This might in part be due to the active compounds in mate that enhance, or assists, body functions. There are some stimulating compounds such as caffeine and theobromine in mate. [8]
Caffeine: caffeine stimulates the cortex of the brain, which is the outer part of the brain that involved in attention, perception, awareness, thought, memory, language, and consciousness. Caffeine dilates coronary arteries and meningeal arteries to stimulate heart, and the secretion of gastric acid.[3] It can act to relieve pain.
Theobromine: relaxes smooth muscle tissue of the circulatory system, and increases blood flow through kidneys and filtration through capillaries of the kidneys.
After drinking a cup of mate it is possible to sense more alertness and different concentration. In this way mate is suited as a beverage that will complement when working on something. Some studies have also shown that it might help in physical activity.
The active compounds in mate might stimulate the body, however, since the mineral content is also high, it will make sure that one also builds up nutritional elements in the body. A body that has all the nutrition it needs will obviously perform better than one that lacks.
Preventing disease
Numerous studies have been made on the ability of mate to suppress disease. Below are some examples of when, and for what conditions mate may be beneficial:
Liver protector [4]
Stimulation of central nervous system [4]
Cardiovascular health [4], [6]
Conclusion
As one might be able to read, mate can be something worth investigate into, whether one seeks more energy and concentration, or one just wants a hot beverage to enjoy. Mate provides one with essential minerals at the same time as the active components of it act to protect organs and lower inflammation.
Sources
[1] Gawron-Gzella, A.; Chanaj-Kaczmarek, J.; Cielecka-Piontek, J. Yerba Mate—A Long but Current History. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3706. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113706
[2] My Food Data. Retrieved from: https://www.myfooddata.com/
[3] Strzelecka H., Kowalski J. (2000) Encyklopedia zielarstwa i ziołolecznictwa, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa. ISBN 83-01-13132-2
[4] Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of Yerba Mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020 Jun 19;27(2):310-313. doi: https://doi.org/10.26444/aaem/119994.
[5] Kim SY, Oh MR, Kim MG, Chae HJ, Chae SW. Anti-obesity effects of Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Sep 25;15:338. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0859-1.
[6] Da Veiga DTA, Bringhenti R, Copes R, Tatsch E, Moresco RN, Comim FV, Premaor MO. Protective effect of yerba mate intake on the cardiovascular system: a post hoc analysis study in postmenopausal women. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2018;51(6):e7253. doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431×20187253. Epub 2018 Apr 19.
[7] Olate-Briones, A.; Albornoz-Muñoz, S.; Rodríguez-Arriaza, F.; Rodríguez-Vergara, V.; Aguirre, J.M.; Liu, C.; Peña-Farfal, C.; Escobedo, N.; Herrada, A.A. Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Reduces Colitis Severity by Promoting Anti-Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization. Nutrients 2024, 16, 1616. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111616.
[8] Gawron-Gzella A, Chanaj-Kaczmarek J, Cielecka-Piontek J. Yerba Mate-A Long but Current History. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 21;13(11):3706. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13113706.