Plant Medicines: Yerba Mate: Many Health Benefits

The Yerba mate herb has proven to have numerous health benefits.

Yerba Mate has many health benefits

Yerba mate, scientifically known as Ilex paraguariensis, is a species of holly native to South America. This includes countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Here's an overview of its characteristics, traditional uses, potential health benefits, and relevant scientific research.

Health Benefits

Stimulant Effects

Yerba mate contains caffeine, theobromine, and other stimulant compounds, which can increase alertness, improve focus, and boost energy levels. It is often used as a natural alternative to coffee or tea.

Antioxidant Properties

Yerba mate is rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonoids, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Digestive Health

Traditionally, yerba mate has been used to aid digestion, relieve constipation, and soothe gastrointestinal discomfort. It may also have potential as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

Weight Management

Some studies suggest that yerba mate may help support weight loss and weight management by increasing metabolism, enhancing fat oxidation, and suppressing appetite.

Plant Description and Habitat

Appearance

Yerba mate is a small evergreen tree or shrub with glossy, serrated leaves and small white flowers. The leaves are dried and used to make a tea-like beverage known as mate.

Habitat

Yerba mate is native to subtropical and temperate regions of South America, where it grows in forests and along riverbanks. It is cultivated in plantations for commercial use.

Primary Compounds

Caffeine: Yerba mate contains caffeine, a natural stimulant that provides energy and mental alertness.

Theobromine: This compound is also found in chocolate and has similar stimulant effects to caffeine.

Polyphenols and Flavonoids: Yerba mate is rich in antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and rutin, which help protect cells from oxidative damage.

Traditional Uses

Indigenous South American Medicine Yerba mate has a long history of use among indigenous peoples in South America, who traditionally brewed it into a tea-like beverage for its stimulant effects and medicinal properties.

It was used to boost energy, improve focus, and promote overall well-being.

Human Clinical Research

Yerba mate has been the subject of numerous scientific studies investigating its potential health benefits.

A 2009 study from the Federal University of Santa Catarina tested 102 people, including 57 people with high cholesterol. After 40 days the study found that LDL-cholesterol was lowered by over 8 percent and HDL-cholesterol was increased by 4.4 percent. Among the high-cholesterol group, those levels were up to 13 percent reduced LDL-c.

A 2011 study from the Federal University of Santa Catarina studied 29 people with type-2 diabetes and 29 people who were pre-diabetic. They found that roasted mate tea for 60 days significantly decreased fasting glucose levels, and reduced hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA1c) levels. It also reduced LDL-c levels and decreased triglyceride levels, as well as total fat levels. They concluded:

“Mate tea consumption improved the glycemic control and lipid profile of Type-2 diabetes subjects, and mate tea consumption combined with nutritional intervention was highly effective in decreasing serum lipid parameters of pre-diabetes individuals, which may reduce their risk of developing coronary disease.”

A 2015 study of 142 people found that microcirculation was improved with five grams per day for six weeks. They also found that blood viscosity improved in the people, increasing their cardiovascular health.

Another 2015 study of 30 people found that yerba mate supplementation for 12 weeks significantly reduced body fat mass, percent body fat and waist-hip ratio.

A 2017 study of 12 active women found that 2 grams of yerba mate before and during exercise improved moods, focus and biking exercise performance.

A 2019 study found that yerba mate tea significantly increased blood antioxidant levels. It also increased levels of HDL-c and PON-1.

A 2018 study found that yerba mate boosted racing times and fat utilization for 11 cyclists.

Research has investigated the antioxidant activity of yerba mate extract and its potential protective benefits in chronic diseases.

A 2023 review of research from Brazil’s Federal University of Santa Catarina found an array of these benefits. The researchers concluded

“The available literature indicates that yerba maté can be used within a balanced and healthy diet for prevention and adjuvant treatment of chronic diseases.”

Scientific References

Berté KA, Beux MR, Spada PK, Salvador M, Hoffmann-Ribani R. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) extract as obtained by spray drying. J Agric Food Chem. 2011 May 25;59(10)5523-7. doi 10.1021/jf2008343.

Lutomski P, Goździewska M, Florek-Łuszczki M. Health properties of Yerba Mate. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2020 Jun 19;27(2)310-313. doi 10.26444/aaem/119994.

Heck CI, de Mejia EG. Yerba Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis) a comprehensive review on chemistry, health implications, and technological considerations. J Food Sci. 2007 Nov;72(9)R138-51. doi 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2007.00535.x.

Gerber T, Nunes A, Moreira BR, Maraschin M. Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) for new therapeutic and nutraceutical interventions A review of patents issued in the last 20 years (2000-2020). Phytother Res. 2023 Feb;37(2)527-548. doi 10.1002/ptr.7632.

Santos D, Frota EG, Vargas BK, Tonieto Gris CC, Santos LFD, Bertolin TE. What is the role of phenolic compounds of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in gut microbiota? Phytochemistry. 2022 Nov;203113341. doi 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113341.

José MFB, Machado RP, Araujo PAB, Speretta GF. Physiological effects of yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis) a systematic review. Nutr Rev. 2023 Aug 10;81(9)1163-1179. doi 10.1093/nutrit/nuac109.

Yu S, Yue Sw, Liu Z, Zhang T, Xiang N, Fu H. Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) improves microcirculation of volunteers with high blood viscosity: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Exp Gerontol. 2015 Feb;62:14-22. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.12.016.

Lobo PCB, da Silva DD, Pimentel GD. Acute Supplementation of Yerba Mate Extract Did Not Change Muscle Strength in Physically Active Men Following the Strength Muscle Test: A Pilot Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2022 Jun 24;14(13):2619. doi: 10.3390/nu14132619.

Kim SY, Oh MR, Kim MG, Chae HJ, Chae SW. Anti-obesity effects of Yerba Mate (Ilex Paraguariensis): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Sep 25;15:338. doi: 10.1186/s12906-015-0859-1.

Alkhatib A, Atcheson R. Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) Metabolic, Satiety, and Mood State Effects at Rest and during Prolonged Exercise. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 15;9(8):882. doi: 10.3390/nu9080882.

Balsan G, Pellanda LC, Sausen G, Galarraga T, Zaffari D, Pontin B, Portal VL. Effect of yerba mate and green tea on paraoxonase and leptin levels in patients affected by overweight or obesity and dyslipidemia: a randomized clinical trial. Nutr J. 2019 Jan 19;18(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12937-018-0426-y.

Areta JL, Austarheim I, Wangensteen H, Capelli C. Metabolic and Performance Effects of Yerba Mate on Well-trained Cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2018 Apr;50(4):817-826. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001482.

de Morais EC, Stefanuto A, Klein GA, Boaventura BC, de Andrade F, Wazlawik E, Di Pietro PF, Maraschin M, da Silva EL. Consumption of yerba mate ( Ilex paraguariensis ) improves serum lipid parameters in healthy dyslipidemic subjects and provides an additional LDL-cholesterol reduction in individuals on statin therapy. J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Sep 23;57(18):8316-24. doi: 10.1021/jf901660g.

Klein GA, Stefanuto A, Boaventura BC, de Morais EC, Cavalcante Lda S, de Andrade F, Wazlawik E, Di Pietro PF, Maraschin M, da Silva EL. Mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) improves glycemic and lipid profiles of type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes individuals: a pilot study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011 Oct;30(5):320-32. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2011.10719975.

Boaventura BC, Di Pietro PF, Stefanuto A, Klein GA, de Morais EC, de Andrade F, Wazlawik E, da Silva EL. Association of mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) intake and dietary intervention and effects on oxidative stress biomarkers of dyslipidemic subjects. Nutrition. 2012 Jun;28(6):657-64. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2011.10.017.

Gebara KS, Gasparotto Junior A, Palozi RAC, Morand C, Bonetti CI, Gozzi PT, de Mello MRF, Costa TA, Cardozo Junior EL. A Randomized Crossover Intervention Study on the Effect a Standardized Maté Extract (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) in Men Predisposed to Cardiovascular Risk. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 23;13(1):14. doi: 10.3390/nu13010014.