In the deep forest of South America, there was an ever-great tree. A tree that is well known to the indigenous people of South America. They have consumed these trees’ leaves for mysterious purposes which they believe is divine. This tree is called ‘Ilex paraguariensis’, an evergreen tree that is found mostly in Paraguay and some parts of Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. This is the tree that grows those powerful leaves that are needed to make Yerba Mate.
History – From Gravestone to Cup
It is not known when the Indigenous people started to drink the Yerba. Its history goes back a very long way. It is said that the Yerba leaf was found under the graves of an Indigenous tribe. Their graves date back to a thousand years. So people have been drinking it for generations.
According to yerbacrew.com, an explorer named Josep Crew discovered the drink among Indigenous people and documented it. The drink was there way before the Spanish and Portuguese colonization. Later the indigenous people got systemically reduced by the colonizer but they did accept their drink which is now the Yerba Mate.
We learn more from the book of Josep Crew, The tradition of mate drinking as we know it is mainly inherited from the Guaraní culture. The Guarani, an indigenous tribe, lived in the central region of South America. Present-day central Paraguay, northeast of Argentina, south and southwest of Brazil, and southeast of Bolivia were part of their influence area.
According to health.com, Unlike most herbal teas, yerba contains caffeine similar to coffee. So, it has coffee-like benefits. Then, what are some of the other benefits of drinking with Yerba mate?
1. It is rich in antioxidants and nutrients
Yerba mate contains several beneficial plant compounds like Xanthines, Caffeoyl derivatives, and Polyphenols that are nutritious for the human body. According to healthline.com, an older study shows, the antioxidant power of Yerba Mate is similar to that of Green Tea.
Yerba mate also contains several other important micronutrients, including vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. Plus, it provides some potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and iron.
However, this contains very small amounts of these nutrients. It’s unlikely to make a large contribution to your diet on its own. For better results, you have to pair it with other nutritious food.
2. It can boost energy and improve mental focus
Caffeine is a great deal for our body to focus on certain things. Especially for those who are addicted to coffee. Caffeine can boost moods and mental focus. This will only work or show its good side when you take the perfect amount of caffeine every day and do not over-drink.
Here comes a drink called Yerba Mate. Some research shows, It has 80 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per cup which is similar to coffee. It can be a great alternative for coffee drinkers throughout the world.
3. Yerba mate May enhance our physical performance
In 2014, a study was done on Yerba Mate drinkers, especially those who drink it before exercise. The result shows that those who drank Yerba Mate before exercise burned 24% more fat than those who didn’t.
So, the Yerba has some content in it that helps burn human fat faster. Ultimately, it helps us exercise more efficiently.
Moreover, It has coffee-like benefits which can boost moods, improve muscle contractions, reduce fatigue, and improve sports performance.
4. Yerba Mate can protect against infections
Some studies found that the content of yerba mate can fight against some of the infectious diseases. For example, it can prevent bacteria, parasites, and fungi from growing. According to healthline.com, a high dose of Yerba Mate extract deactivated E. coli, a bacteria that causes food poisoning symptoms like stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Also, there are Compounds in it that can prevent the growth of a type of fungus called Malassezia furfur, that are responsible for scaly skin, dandruff, and certain skin rashes.
5. Yerba mate can help us lose weight and belly fat
The right dose of Yerba Mate can be extremely beneficial for those who are suffering from overweight. Throughout the world, this is a major problem, mostly because of the growing industry of fast food. But the content in Yerba Mate can help you lose weight and maintain your diet more easily.
Research in 2015 shows, that from the two groups, one was given Yerba Mate powder (3 grams per cup) and the other group was given the placebo which means Yerba Mate. It was found that those who were given the Yerba Mate lost on average 0.7 kg or 1.5 pounds while the other group who didn’t take it gained an average of 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg).
6. It can lower our blood sugar levels
For those who have diabetes problems, drinking Yerba can be a big boost for them. Research shows, that Yerba Mate helps lower blood sugar levels and reduce complications associated with diabetes.
According to helthline.com, a study was done in 2011 with those who have type two diabetes. They consumed 11 ounces (oz), or 330 milliliters (mL), of Yerba Mate three times a day. After 2 months, they had significantly lower levels of fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c.
7. Lower your risk of heart disease
As we have already discussed, Yerba Mate contains antioxidant compounds such as caffeoyl derivatives and polyphenols. Which can also protect against heart diseases.
It seems that yerba can reduce cholesterol levels in the body. One study was done with 119 females with overweight and found that daily consumption of Yerba mate led to reductions in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol over 12 weeks.
From Yerba Mate to our ‘Unimate’
From the extract of Yerba Mate, we have developed our ‘Unimate’. It is a drink that is as rich as real Yerba mate/tea. But even better, it has the perfect dose for consuming daily. Even comes in several packs like 30 days, 60 days, or even 90 days pack.
Unimate is also said to have physical and mental health benefits just like coffee. It uses a five-step process that includes handpicking, fire roasting, and purification.
Conclusion:
Unimate offers our body the same benefits that Yerba mate possess. The Indigenous people of South America drank this for centuries to get that benefits. It controls blood sugar levels, making you feel full longer which helps you in your diet. It also contains ingredients that improve health and help avoid heart disease. Overall it’s the perfect drink for a perfect human being.
