Yerba Mate - What is it?
In South-America it is called "The Drink of the Gods". Yerba Mate contains a long range of antioxidants that help your body in its fight against free radicals.
Yerba Mate has been in use by the natives of South-America for centuries, and is known to be stimulating and rich in nutrients. It gives energy at the same time that it has a calming effect and clears your mind.
Yerba Mate is a social drink in Brazil, Argentine and Paraguay, where it is shared in a cup made of wood as a gesture of friendship.
The Gauchos (Argentinian cowboys) drink Yerba Mate as a "liquid vegetable" and depend on its high content of nutrients to get them through the day.
Some of the nutrients in Yerba Mate are: vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex, Biotin, Choline, Inositol; minerals: Calsium, Mangan, Irona, Selenium, Magnesium, Silicon, Phosfor, Sulphur; 15 Aminoacids, Fatty Acids, Flavenols, Polyphenols and Trace Minerals
Humans have survived hunger by drinking Yerba Mate. In Argentine they drink seven times as much Yerba Mate as coffee, and believe it can ease your mind; "Te levanta el espiritu".
Haakon Rian Ueland
Yerba Mate is a plant in the holly family that mainly grows in South American. In many of those countries, the dried leaves are steeped in hot water to prepare a drink commonly shared with friends and simply called "Mate."
While Mate does not contain the amount of caffeine found in coffee and tea, it does contain some caffeine, and does have a similar stimulant effect. Mate drinkers report being more alert and focused, but without the jitteriness and anxiety that can result from coffee drinking. Another positive is that Mate contains magnesium, potassium, and manganese, all elements that many people lack in their diet.
There is some evidence to suggest that yerba Mate extract has a calming, antidepressant effect, which could eventually lead to more widespread usage to naturally treat depression. The indians of Argentina and Paraguay use Mate for appetite control, reducing stress and anxiety, and treating insomnia. It has also been said to slow down the aging process and boost the immune system.
Clearly Yerba Mate can be a very healthy addition to your diet and invigorate your health. While sharing some of the stimulant properties of coffee and tea, it is a much healthier alternative with few - if any - negative side effects.
About Nutrition
| Gulf Coast Seafood Safety |
 The BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill has resulted in personal tragedy and loss of lives. It's also affecting the environment along the coasts. A reader asked me if the seafood caught on the gulf coasts is still safe to eat. So far, it is safe to eat gulf coast seafood.More About Marine Life in the Gulf and the Oil Spill:
Photo © Mark Schweizer Gulf Coast Seafood Safety originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 14:21:17. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Healthy Eating and Travel |
 Will you be traveling yet this summer? When you're on the road, it may seem like healthy food is difficult to find and that you're doomed to eat junk food until you reach your destination. But that doesn't have to be the case; you can find healthy foods while you're traveling if you know where to look. Many convenience stores offer fresh fruit (you just need to search beyond the greasy chips and candy bars that are usually displayed prominently). You might want to pack a small cooler with fresh snacks and beverages that you have at home. This also saves you money since many things at the convenience stores are a little more expensive than what you already bought at the grocery store. Here are some more of my tips for healthy eating when you travel. More About Foods and Travel Daily Nutrition TipPhoto © Mark Schweizer Healthy Eating and Travel originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 08:49:39. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Six Weeks to a Healthier Diet |
|
Photo © Richard S Six Weeks to a Healthier Diet originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 07:00:26. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| Review Your Diet Program |
|
Have you ever joined a diet program to help you lose or maintain your weight? Was it a good experience and did you meet your goals or were you disappointed, and left feeling like you wasted your time or money? I'm collecting reader reviews for diet programs: Review Your Diet Program originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 09:44:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
| US FDA Seeking Comments On Menu Nutrition Information |
|
The Food and Drug Administration invites the public to submit comments and information about the new law (Section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act) requiring restaurants and similar retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information on menus and menu boards, including drive-through menu boards. Other nutrition information such as fat, sodium and sugar content must be offered upon request.
If you'd like to leave a comment, or read comments, you'll find them on Regulations.gov, docket number FDA-2010-N-0298. To leave a comment click on 'comment due' to reach the comment page. US FDA Seeking Comments On Menu Nutrition Information originally appeared on About.com Nutrition on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 10:42:13. Permalink | Comment | Email this |
If you don't think your diet is on the right track, I created this