Yerba Mate
The National Drink Of Argentina...

Although yerba mate has not enjoyed the same level of media exposure as our Acai has recently, it certainly commands respect and attention. 

One of our product's other superfood treasures, yerba mate, is also the national drink of Argentina. It is popular in Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, as well. 

According to a consumer survey of 6,351 persons between the ages of 12 and 75 in Argentina conducted by IBOPE Argentina during 1999, 92% of Argentine households consume yerba mate. 

Argentines drink yerba mate for several reasons, including increased energy and weight management. Do the Argentineans know something you don't?

Yerba mate was also featured in a comprehensive 3 page article in the October 2003 edition of Woman's World magazine.

Yerba mate, like coffee and tea, is considered safe by the FDA, and is on their GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. Consumed in moderation, mate is recognized as one of the most healthful natural beverages on earth!

Yerba Mate Provides a Wealth of Nutrients. Each infusion of Mate contains - Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B... Complex Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc... Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid, and 15 Amino Acids. 

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. 

Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Research: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Bile Stimulant, Stimulant, Thermogenic (increases fat burning), Vasodilator, Aids In Weight Loss, Induces Mental Clarity.

Diabetic Treatment -Yerba mate has been shown to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), with an effect comparable to that of two pharmaceutical grade AGE inhibitor drugs. The formation of AGEs plays a part in the development of diabetic complications.

Fights Bad Breath - Polyphenols found in tea and yerba mate have been shown to prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria?s production of odorous compounds.

Aids in Weight Loss - For many years now, physicians in Europe have been incorporating yerba mate in treatments for obesity.  

In 2000, a research team studying obesity at the Charlottenlund Medical Center in Denmark, tested an herbal preparation of Yerba Mate, Guarana, and Damiana (YGD) for gastric emptying and subsequent weight loss. 

They concluded that the herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. In addition, maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole.

Helps Relieve Allergies - Linda Rector Page, N.D., Ph.D., notes that yerba mate is helpful in opening respiratory passages to overcome allergy symptoms. Shown to reduce the severity of some allergies and hay fever, yerba mate works by stimulating the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids, which help suppress the inflammation and immune response due to allergies.

Does Yerba Mate Exhibit Anti-Cancer Properties Like Green Tea? - Aside from its significant antioxidant effects, research from the University of Illinois suggests yerba mate could in fact be a potent ally in cancer protection. The objectives of this study were to determine the phenolic content of yerba mate tea products (MT) (Ilex paraguariensis) and evaluate their in vitro capacity to inhibit topoisomerase I (Topo I) and II (Topo II) activities and oral carcinoma cell proliferation. Their work is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Science 2005.

A recently filed US Patent (2002) cites yerba mate for inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity by 40-50% in vitro. The underlying study suggests that mate might be useful for treating a variety of disorders such as. . . "depression, disorders of attention and focus, mood and emotional disorders, Parkinson's disease, extrapyramidal disorders, hypertension, substance abuse, eating disorders, withdrawal syndromes, and the cessation of smoking." 

Other Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Traditional Use: Anti-allergy, antidepressant, appetite suppressant, blood cleanser, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), central nervous system stimulant, digestive stimulant, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), nervine (balances/calms nerves), neurasthenic (reduces nerve pain), neuroprotective (protects brain cells), purgative (laxative).

Dr. Klein's Top 5 reasons of drinking Yerba Mate are...

1. More energy and vitality.
2. Increased fat burning and weight loss.
3. Increased mental awareness and elevated mood.
4. Less unhealthy cravings.
5. Increased ability to fight off disease.

Information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information in this site intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.