Mate, chimarrão, tea mate, the traditional southern tea is full of benefits

Health

Chimarrão is a typical drink, characteristic of the culture of the southern region of South America, Brazil and Paraguay. It is a habit inherited from the indigenous Quincha, Aymara and Guaraní cultures.

But it's not just tradition, this tea is gaining notoriety, our indigenous cultural heritage is reaching far and wide, studies show its numerous health benefits.

In a review, several studies were brought together to assess the health benefits of caffeinated drinks from the Ilex genus. The plants in this genus mainly contain polyphenols and alkaloids and have various health benefits.

Camellia sinensis tea (green tea) is widely available and known throughout the world for its benefits such as antioxidant properties and other bioactive compounds (e.g. polyphenols and carotenoids).

Not as well known, but equally healthy traditional beverages similar to green tea, such as those of the Ilex genus, the large-leafed Kudingcha (Ilex latifolia Thunb and Ilex kudingcha C.J. Tseng), Yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil), Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) and Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes), known only regionally, have attracted a lot of attention recently and have been the subject of further study.

Specifically mate

Produced from the leaves and branches of Ilex paraguariensis, Yerba maté, the main chemical compounds identified in the extract are: polyphenols (chlorogenic acid) and xanthines (caffeine and theobromine).

Among the potentially beneficial effects on human health are activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protection, regulation of intestinal microbiota and anticancer.

Xanthines: These compounds act as stimulants. They include caffeine and theobromine, which are also found in tea, coffee and chocolate.
Caffeoyl derivatives: these compounds are the main health-promoting antioxidants in tea.
Saponins: These bitter compounds have certain anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Polyphenols: This is a large group of antioxidants associated with a reduced risk of many diseases.

Yerba maté protects DNA from oxidation and in vitro lipoperoxidation of low-density lipoproteins and has a high antioxidant capacity. Yerba maté tea has also been reported to be associated with both the prevention and cause of some types of cancer. Yerba maté has gained public attention outside South America, including the United States and Europe, for its potential. (2)

The main difference between the production of green tea and mate tea is the drying method. Green tea is mainly dried using rapid air drying at a high temperature, which retains more of the characteristics of the fresh leaves, as well as developing characteristic flavor and aroma compounds.

According to an older study, the antioxidant power of Yerba maté tea is similar to that of green tea (3)

Mate is dried very slowly and often with wood smoke. This gives it very different flavor characteristics and contributes to changes in chemical composition and physical appearance.

Another important difference between Mate and green tea is the presence of stems in the final product. Green tea production removes all the large stems before grinding, while mate generally has a high content of stem pieces, depending on the producer.

Yerba maté also contains several other important micronutrients, including vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B6. It also provides some potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iron(4).

Therefore, beverages produced from Ilex paraguariensis have great potential as a source of biological compounds for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

7 Benefits of drinking mate

More concentration

A cup of Mate contains approximately (80mg) the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee(5)

Caffeine can increase your energy levels and make you feel less tired.

Caffeine can also affect the levels of certain signaling molecules in the brain, which makes it particularly beneficial for mental concentration (6)

It is also known that caffeine can improve alertness, attention and reaction time in participants who consumed a single dose containing 40-300 mg of caffeine (7).

Improving physical performance

Caffeine is also known to improve muscle contractions, reduce fatigue and improve sports performance by up to 5%, according to some older studies (8, 9, 10).

The caffeine contained in Yerba maté makes it an ally in physical performance.

Interestingly, a 2014 study showed that participants who received a 1 gram (g) capsule of ground Yerba maté leaves just before exercise burned 24% more fat during moderate-intensity exercise (11)

By using fat as fuel during exercise, you have saved your carbohydrate reserves for critical moments of high intensity, resulting in better sports performance.

Prevention of infections by bacteria, parasites and fungi

Some older test tube studies found that a high dose of Yerba maté extract deactivated E. coli, a bacterium that causes symptoms of food poisoning such as stomach cramps and diarrhea (12, 13).

The compounds in Yerba maté can also prevent the growth of Malassezia furfur, a type of fungus responsible for scaly skin, dandruff and certain rashess (14)

Weight loss and abdominal fat

Yerba maté can help control weight and can be effective in reducing body weight, belly fat and body mass index (15).

It seems to decrease the total number of fat cells and reduce the amount of fat they contain (16).

Human research suggests that it can also increase the amount of stored fat burned for energy (17l).

What's more, in a 2015 study of overweight people, those who were given 3 g of Yerba maté powder a day lost an average of 0.7 kg. They also reduced their waist-to-hip ratio by 2%, which indicates a loss of belly fat. Participants given a placebo, on the other hand, gained an average of 2.8 kg and increased their waist-to-hip ratio by 1% during the same 12-week period (18)

Less risk of heart disease

The antioxidant compounds in mate, such as caffeol derivatives and polyphenols, can protect against heart disease (19, 20).

It appears to reduce cholesterol levels

A study of 119 overweight women found that daily consumption of Yerba maté led to reductions in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol over a 12-week period. In addition, Yerba maté also significantly reduced triglyceride levels when combined with a low-calorie diet (21).

That said, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be reached, as some studies have found that Yerba maté has no significant effect on cholesterol levels (22).

Reduces blood sugar levels

Yerba maté can help lower blood sugar and reduce the complications associated with diabetes. It can even improve insulin signaling (23, 24, 25, 26).

In a 2011 study, people with type 2 diabetes consumed 330 milliliters (mL) of Yerba maté three times a day. After 2 months, they had significantly lower fasting blood sugar levels (27)

Risks

Drinking large amounts of Yerba maté for a long time can increase the risk of cancer of the upper respiratory tract and digestive tract. (28, 29, 30).

Mate contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are known carcinogens, found in tobacco smoke and grilled meat.

Tea is often consumed at very high temperatures, which can damage the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts, increasing the risk of cancer cells forming.

In addition, caffeine itself has its effects, too much caffeine can cause headaches, migraines and high blood pressure in some individuals (33).

Pregnant women should also be careful: the recommended limit is a maximum of 355 mL per day, due to the risk of miscarriage and premature birth. (34).