Yerba+Mate

= YERBA MATE =

What is Yerba Mate?
-The famous beverage known as having “the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate” (Guayaki brand Yerba Mate, 2015). According tot Guayaki which is the brand of Yerba Mate, the indigenous people in South America discovered Yerba Mate, from the dried leaves and stems of the South American rainforest holly tree (llex paraguariensis). South Americans drink Yerba Mate as an alternative to coffee. It is known to have higher antioxidant levels than even Green Tea. When American scientists and consumers heard about Yerba Mate they became intrigued due to the multitude of health benefits that Yerba Mate possesses.

Where can it be obtained and How much is it?
-Guayaki offers different forms in which you can buy the product they offer varieties of loose leaf organic yerba mate, bottled yerba mate, tea bags and energy shot. -You can buy tea bags for about $7 or if you buy it in bulk its about $23 -You can get loose leaf Mate for about $13 -You can get a 12- pack of the bottled Mate for $40 or a canned 12-pack for $30 -The shots are $50 for a case of 12 -You can buy these products almost anywhere, online on the actual website or through Amazon, they have them at your neighborhood liquor store or grocery store as well.

Is it banned by NCAA?
The NCAA does not ban Yerba Mate because it contains arginine, which is an amino acid. However caffeine is banned in the NCAA, but since Yerba Mate does contain caffeine but it is naturally caffeinated so nothing is added to it.

Research & Physiology
According to Guayaki, Yerba Mate contains 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, abundant antioxidants.

Yerba Mate consumed in beverages containing the extract of dried Illex Paraguariensis leaves and include polyphenols, caffeoyls, phytosterols, and saponins as active ingredients. The body digests these products and is reported to have effect in anti-oxidants, vasodilatory, lipid lowering properties, anti-mutagenic, and anti-glycation when absorbed. Another study reported to have an increase in resting metabolic rate and a reduced respiratory quotient after prolonged (1-4 hours) rest in humans.

__Yerba Mate Association with Fat Oxidation and Energy Expenditure__
Researchers had participants (14 healthy males and females) ingest either 1000mg of Yerba Mate or a placebo an hour before an two ergometry exercise test. Power output of individuals was initiated and increased 0.5 w/kg of body weight every 3 minutes to reach maximum VO2 uptake. Results from blood sampling showed that Yerba Mate significantly increase Fatty Acid Oxidation and the Energy Expenditure from fatty acid oxidation by 24% in exercise intensities below 70% of individual's VO2 max. This also trended to decrease in Blood Lactate Concentration. This study suggests an increase in fatty acid oxidation and energy expenditure of fatty acids in light to moderate exercise without negatively affecting maximal exercise performance and can potentially increase weight loss effectiveness from exercise and improve sport performance.

__Yerba Mate Association with Higher Bone Mineral Density in Post-Menopausal Women__
This study identified 146 participants who drank at least 1L of Yerba Mate daily for 4 or more years and matched (age and time since menopause) with an equal number of women who did not drink Yerba Mate. Yerba Mate was the only factor in the study besides Body Mass Index. Bone mineral density was measured from the lumbar spine and femoral neck with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results showed a 9.7% higher bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and 6.2% higher bone mineral density in the femoral head in those who drank Yerba Mate.

__On the virtue and therapeutic properties on Yerba Mate__ This study identified that the benefits from drinking Yerba Mate are; it induces mental clarity, sustains energy levels/ reduce fatigue, aids in weight control,aids in elimination and fights bad breath. The article mentions the components are similar to green tea, but yerba mate is much more nutritious. This study done proved that "the ingestion of extracts of llex paraguariensis (yerba mate) could contribute to increase the antioxidant defense of an organism against free radicals attack". This article also stated that one of their findings was that yerba mate "contained a higher content of flavonoids and caffeoyl derivatives than another assayed species". Scientists considered these findings very significant to the nutritional value of mate.

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