Yerba Mate Tea Superfood
Table of Contents
NEWS: Yerba Mate Tea – This superfood is now available in the SANEStore as a convenient whole-food powder so you can more easily enjoy it in smoothies and recipes.
Yerba Mate is truly a remarkable herbal beverage which ranks exceptionally high in nutritional content among brewed or steeped drink products. Yerba mate (pronounced “Mah-Tay”) is a species of holly (family Aquifoliaceae) native to subtropical South America in northeastern Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil. Our organic yerba mate is shaded grown and has not been roasted or treated.
Yerba Mate is Packed with naturally occurring nutrients and antioxidants. There are 196 volatile (or active) chemical compounds found in the Yerba Mate plant. Of those, 144 are also found in green tea. Yerba Mate contains 11 polyphenols. Polyphenols are a group of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals (phyto- meaning plant) are recently-discovered compounds that act as powerful antioxidants and are considered to exhibit anti-cancer effects in mammals by strengthening an organism’s natural defenses and protecting it against cellular destruction (i.e. lycopene in tomatoes, flavonoids in blueberries, and isoflavones in soy). The polyphenol concentration of Mate has also shown a strong correlation to its overall antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, polyphenolic compounds found in Mate tea differ significantly from green tea because Mate tea contains high concentration of chlorogenic acid and no catechins. As a result, mate consumption complements green/black tea use quite well.
In addition to polyphenols, Yerba Mate leaves contain saponins (In fact, one recent study yielded 3 new saponins in the Yerba Mate leaf!) Saponins are phytochemicals that have been found to specifically stimulate the immune system and aid the body in protecting against disease. They possess significant anti-inflammatory properties.
Mate contains three xanthines: caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, the main xanthine being caffeine. Caffeine content varies between 0.7% and 1.7% of dry weight (compared with 0.3-0.9% for tea leaves, 2.5-7.5% in guarana, and up to 3.2% for ground coffee); theobromine content varies from 0.3-0.9%; theophylline is present in small quantities, or can be completely absent. A substance previously called “mateine” is a synonym for caffeine (like theine and guaranine).
Studies of mate, though very limited, have shown preliminary 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. The three xanthines present in mate have been shown to have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue, and a stimulating effect on myocardial (heart) tissue.
In 2005, researchers at the University of Illinois studied 25 different types of mate. They found the tea to contain “higher levels of antioxidants than green tea”… and, based on cell studies, “may help prevent oral cancer.” Other studies have shown yerba mate to possess up to 90% more metabolism-boosting nutrients than green tea!
Mate also contains high concentrations of inorganic compounds. The minerals aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, potassium, and zinc are of particular interest due to their importance in human metabolism and development.
According to Dr. Mowrey, Director of Mountainwest Institute of Herbal Sciences, one group of investigators from the Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society concluded that Yerba Mate contains “practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life.” They focused especially on Pantothenic Acid, remarking that it is “rare to find a plant with so much of this significant and vital nutrient… It is indeed difficult to find a plant in any area of the world equal to Mate in nutritional value.”
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 Mate. They considered those findings “to be of great relevance” to the nutritional value of Mate infusions.
Each infusion of Mate contains:
Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex
Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus
Additional Compounds: Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.
Why Try Yerba Mate Tea Superfood?
- Strong anti-oxidant
- Aids the body in protecting against disease
- Significant Anti-inflammatory properties
- Promotes weight loss
- Boosts the metabolism
- Supports the adrenal system
- Boosts energy
- Cholesterol bettering properties
- Elevates extracellular ATP, ADP, and AMP
- Exhibit significant cancer-fighting activity
Health benefits of Yerba Mate tea in weight loss
Because yerba mate has a greater caffeine content than green tea, it offers more fat burning and metabolism-boosting advantages. The extra caffeine found in yerba mate makes it a more effective appetite suppressant.
Yerba Mate Tea Aids in Weight Loss by
Blocking Fat Production
The chemical compounds found in yerba mate tea are responsible for its ability to block fat production. Mateine, the primary active chemical compound in Yerba Mate tea, blocks the enzyme known as Adenosine Mono-Phosphate (AMP) which is required for an enzyme involved in fat formation called Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL). By inhibiting this enzyme, yerba mate keeps more fat from being formed and instead encourages weight loss.
Yerba Mate Tea Increases Metabolism and Energy Levels
Besides caffeine, yerba mate also contains a stimulant known as theophylline which boosts metabolism and energy levels. This increased level of stimulation increases both mental and physical energy allowing for more output during exercise and more calories burned overall.
Supplementing with Yerba Mate tea for Weight Loss
Although drinking yerba mate tea can help you lose weight, it is important that you don’t rely on the tea as your only source of weight loss aid. Instead, incorporate a balanced SANE diet and exercise regimen with yerba mate in order to maximize results.
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