Yerba Mate is a powerful, rejuvenating tea that is made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariansis tree, grown in tropical climates like South America. This beverage is very popular in South America, where it is sipped throughout the day from a dried-out gourd. Yerba mate purportedly has many uses, including weight loss, though more controlled medical research needs to be done to establish the efficacy and safety for this herbal remedy.
Uses
According to an article published by the Mayo Clinic website, yerba mate tea is considered by some to have widely diverse medicinal properties. Proponents of yerba mate believe that it promotes weight loss by decreasing fat accumulation; decreases oxidative stress on the liver and the heart; relieves fatigue; and is helpful in treating headache and depression. However, most people drink yerba mate for weight loss, for its soothing, yet refreshing effect and for its woody taste. Yerba mate tastes somewhat bitter, but it is a taste that is easy to acquire.
Availability
This energizing drink is enjoyed around the world to promote weight loss, as it is available online and may also be purchased at many health food stores. Yerba mate tea usually comes as loose tea in a box, packaged inside in a cellophane bag, to preserve freshness.
Preparation
To make the yerba mate weight loss drink, the ilex paraguariansis leaves are removed from the tree, then sun-dried or oven-dried and crumbled to make dry tea. The dried yerba mate tea is placed in a tea brewer and brewed in water. After the yerba mate tea is steeped, water is added to the tea to the desired strength. Tea strength is selected based on the concentration tea color. The darker the tea, the more concentrated it is.
Active Ingredients
According to an article published in the Los Angeles Times, yerba mate is similar to black tea and green tea, as it also contains caffeine, which may be helpful for weight loss. Packed with minerals and vitamins including antioxidants vitamin B and vitamin C, manganese, potassium and zinc, yerba mate is unique in that it also contains the active ingredients theobromine and theophylline, also present in asthma medicines, which promotes overall circulation by increasing blood flow to the lungs. Additionally, caffeine is present in yerba mate, with each cup offering approximately 80 mg. In perspective, that means a cup of yerba mate offers twice the caffeine found in a cup of black tea, and ½ that of a cup of regular coffee.
Warning
Though more research is needed to comprehensively study yerba mate, according to the Los Angeles Times, a study of lifelong yerba mate drinkers indicated they have a greater incidence of some cancers. Another study showed that those who drank large amounts of the tea daily --- a liter or more --- had significantly increased risk of cancers of the esophagus, lungs, mouth, pharynx and larynx.
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