Yerba Mate – Organic Answers Column – July 24, 2024
Yerba Mate Health Benefits
As most of you know, I drink tea and talk about it at the beginning of each of my radio shows. Having a little yerba mate the last few shows made me realize I should give you a little info on this tasty tea.
Yerba mate (also called yerba maté) is a traditional South American drink that’s gaining worldwide popularity. Our daughter Logan taught us about it back when she lived and taught school in Argentina.
Yerba mate contains antioxidants, caffeine and several helpful nutrients. Research suggests it may enhance physical performance, boost energy levels and support weight management. It is said to have the strength of coffee, health benefits of tea and joy of chocolate.
Ilex paraguariensis, a tree in the holly family. Photo from Wikimedia
Yerba mate is made from the leaves and stems of the holly, Ilex paraguariensis. Leaves are typically dried over fire, then steeped in hot water. It is traditionally consumed from containers, sometimes gourds, and sipped with a metal straw that has a filter at its lower end to strain out the leaf fragments. I make it in the normal way and strain the solids out before drinking hot or cold.
Some reported benefits include:
- Rich in antioxidants and nutrients.
- Can boost energy and improve mental focus.
- May enhance physical performance.
- May protect against infections.
- May help weight lose and belly fat.
- Lowers blood sugar levels.
Yerba mate also contains several other important nutrients, including vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. It also provides potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iron.
