7 Proven Benefits Of Yerba Mate Backed By Science

Yerba mate is a popular traditional South American drink made by brewing the leaves of the yerba mate plant, Ilex paraguariensis. It has been consumed for centuries for its stimulating effects and rich earthy taste.

In recent years, modern research has also corroborated what the ancient South American people believed to be true - that yerba mate offers a wide range of health benefits. From improving mental clarity to promoting a healthy weight, yerba mate can help you in some impressive ways.

In this blog post, we will explore some of the proven health benefits of yerba mate with links to the studies that support these claims.

Yerba Mate Benefit #1: Boosts Energy & Mental Clarity

One of the most well-known benefits of yerba mate is its ability to boost energy and mental clarity. This is due to its high caffeine and caffeine-like components, which provides a quick and sustainable source of energy without the jitters or crashes associated with other caffeinated beverages.

A study published in the journal Nutrients found that yerba mate improved cognitive function and alertness in healthy individuals, particularly in tasks that required sustained attention and memory recall.

In addition to caffeine, yerba mate also contains theobromine and theophylline, which are compounds that have been shown to enhance mental clarity and a sense of calm.

Yerba Mate Benefit #2: Helps With Weight Loss & Belly Fat

Yerba mate has also been shown to aid in weight loss and management.

A study published in 2015 found that yerba mate supplementation significantly reduced body fat mass in overweight individuals, reduced body fat percentage and reduced waist-to-hip ratio.

It has been theorized that this effect may be due to the thermogenic properties of yerba mate, which increase the body's metabolic rate and energy expenditure.

Additionally, yerba mate has been shown to reduce the absorption of dietary fat and increase satiety, making it a useful tool for weight management.

Yerba Mate Benefit #3: Helps Control Blood Sugar

It’s becoming clear that controlling blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity is increasingly important in living a long, healthy and thriving life. From Alzheimer’s disease to diabetes to autoimmune diseases - insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels seem to play a key role in disease progression.

The Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a study in 2011 showing that yerba mate consumption significantly reduced fasting glucose levels, hemoglobin A(1C) levels and LDL cholesterol. 

Yerba Mate Benefit #4: Improves Gut Health

Gut health is another aspect of overall health that can have a profound effect on your overall well being.

Phytochemistry published a study in 2022 reviewing how yerba mate tea can positively impact diversity in your gut microbiome. They presume that this effect is due to the vast number of bioactive components and antioxidants in yerba mate, including methylxanthines, triterpenes, saponins, and phenolics.

Yerba Mate Benefit #5: Improved Athletic Performance

Because yerba mate is a staple in South American culture, as is soccer, it’s no surprise that many soccer players drink yerba mate before practices and games as a performance enhancer.  But there are studies that show the performance enhancing effects of yerba mate can expand way beyond just soccer.

A study published by Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise showed that yerba mate improved time trial performance in trained cyclists. On top of that, the study showed that those same cyclists utilized fat at an increased rate during exercise, which adds more support to the idea of using yerba mate to assist in weight loss and body composition changes.

Another study by Nutrients showed that yerba mate can increase focus, energy and concentration during prolonged exercise. The same study also showed that fatty acid oxidation was increased significantly, and scores for hunger and desire to eat were reduced.

It does look like that yerba mate would be a wise choice for a pre-game or pre-practice beverage to enhance performance.

Yerba Mate Benefit #6: Improves Cardiovascular Health

There are numerous studies that show yerba mate has a positive effect on cardiovascular health in a few different ways.

A study published in 2015 by Experimental Gerontology showed that yerba mate can reduce some risk factors of cardiovascular disease related to blood viscosity.

Another study published in 2019 by Nutritional Journal showed that yerba mate consumption significantly increases antioxidant capacity by increasing serum levels of paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) and increased HDL which can protect against atherosclerotic diseases.

Yet another study published in 2015 in the journal Nutrients showed that yerba mate can both suppress triglyceride accumulation, reduce inflammation and improve lipid profiles.

Talk about being heart healthy!

Yerba Mate Benefit #7: Lowers Risk Of Chronic Diseases

Yerba mate has also been shown to have antioxidant and anti-cancer effects.

A study published in 2022 found that many of the antioxidants in the yerba mate plant do in fact infuse into the beverage. They showed that the yerba mate beverage contains high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, which are compounds that have been shown to protect against chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

These polyphenols work by neutralizing free radicals, which are harmful molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

Drink Animate Yerba Mate

Here at Animate Yerba Mate, we aim to be the absolute best yerba mate brand by elevating this already prolific superfood in three ways.

First, we only source 100% organic ingredients, meaning you never have to worry about your tea being contaminated with pesticides.

Second, we only use plastic-free tea bags so you don’t have to worry about consuming any microplastic.

Third, we only source unsmoked yerba mate to avoid the harmful chemicals that are created through the smoking process.