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.
Y! Health Nutrition News
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