We could give you thousands of reasons why it is a good idea to drink Yerba Mate. In fact, we have discussed some of the pros in other posts. The benefits are countless, but we made a short selection for you anyway. Because if you didn’t try it, then you should. But even if you already have, you may not know the good it is doing to your body and mind.
Why drink Yerba Mate? We give you some good reasons:
It is energizing ⚡
Caffeine is a component of Yerba Mate that helps give energy and stimulate the central nervous system. And —unlike coffee— it doesn’t produce anxiety, addiction, or the inability to fall asleep. On the other hand, it increases stimulation and concentration, favoring a better performance when studying, working or performing physical activities.
Although the effect is similar, Yerba Mate contains less caffeine than coffee and the stimulating effects are different. Coffee can have an effect that may be too strong; while Yerba Mate “wakes up” those who drink it in a more dosed and pleasant way. This may be due to the fact that the caffeine present in Yerba Mate is more diluted in a larger quantity of water, which is taken little by little. You can read more about it by clicking here.
Additionally, Yerba Mate is notably healthier than commercial energy drinks; due to the fact that these have a high concentration of substances such as caffeine, sugar, dyes, carbohydrates and electrolytes. Instead, including Yerba Mate in the daily diet has countless benefits for the body. These commercial drinks, despite not being toxic, do not have any added value.
In addition, our body consumes carbohydrates much more quickly when drinking yerba mate, causing it to accelerate the metabolism. As a consequence of this, our bodies feel a more natural energy, since a large amount of fat was eliminated.
It is diuretic 🍃
The properties of Yerba Mate make it an excellent ally to relieve constipation, especially when accompanied by one to two liters of liquid per day. In addition to its good supply of fluids, which helps the digestive system; the effect of Yerba leaves on intestinal transit works by stimulating the system’s own contractions and movements (therefore it also has a slightly laxative effect).
Also, this benefit is enhanced when Yerba Mate is combined with digestive herbs. The most used for this purpose are:
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Dandelion (digestive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and diuretic).
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Sage (digestive, antibiotic, astringent, antioxidant and relaxing).
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Rosemary (digestive, purifying, stimulating).
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Pennyroyal (digestive, aphrodisiac and calms menstrual discomfort).
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Mint (digestive, analgesic, anti-inflammatory).
So, don’t hesitate to create your own Yerba Mate infusion with some of these herbs!
It is also recommended to combine Mate with a diet rich in fiber. Among the best digestive snacks to accompany Yerba Mate, are:
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Fresh fruits (such as apple, pineapple and orange —you can even add a few slices to the infusion—).
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Whole grain bars with high fiber content and dried fruits (such as walnuts and almonds).
The intake of Yerba Mate also allows you to create healthy habits that improve the general digestive system (such as the practice of sports, thanks to the energy it provides!).
It is an Antioxidant 👵
Yerba Mate, consumed in its traditional form, is a powerful antioxidant that outperforms red wine, green tea, black tea, and orange juice. The consumption of Yerba slows cell aging and strengthens the immune system.
What is the secret behind the great antioxidant power of Mate? Several studies agree that it may be due to the way it is consumed, since taking it with hot water causes all substances to be efficiently extracted.
Antioxidants improve natural defenses and prevent cell deterioration, often accelerated by the stresses of everyday life. For this reason, Yerba Mate increases the self-protective and preventive capacity of those who take it.
Helps improve cholesterol 💪
The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells and function well. But when too much cholesterol circulates in the blood, it oxidizes and accumulates; forming fat deposits that clog the arteries, increasing the risk of certain diseases such as arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions.
One of the studies from the University of Illinois shows that the consumption of Yerba Mate increases the amount of “good” cholesterol. This type of cholesterol is what prevents heart attacks and generates good circulation.
Therefore, together with monitoring the lifestyle with a healthy diet and physical exercise; including Yerba Mate in the diet is an excellent natural alternative to combat high levels of bad cholesterol.
Vitamins Pack 💊
In addition to many nutrients, Yerba Mate contains many of the vitamins necessary for life, such as:
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Vitamin A, which helps the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, soft and bone tissues, mucous membranes and skin. In addition, it also produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. This vitamin promotes good visión in dim light.
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The vitamin B complex is a set of eight essential vitamins to structure and reinforce the functioning of DNA. It regulates the performance of the body and the use of energy, in addition to improving muscle tone, positively intervening in the nervous system and preventing various lesions on skin and mucous membranes.
There is no doubt that Yerba Mate provides multiple health benefits. It allows our body to carry out its metabolic and circulatory activities in an ideal way, in addition to giving it energy to enhance its physical and mental performance.
We hope that, now that you know this, you will incorporate this habit into your daily routines which — in addition to being healthy — is a great companion for everything you do. You will not regret it 🙂.
