Yerba Mate (yer-bah mah-tay) has the “strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate” all in one beverage.

There are many legends surrounding yerba mate, and it’s known to the Argentine Gauchos (cowboys) as their “liquid vegetable”, and to the native forest peoples who have survived periods of drought and famine by drinking yerba mate as the “Drink of the Gods”.

According to a recent study published in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety they found that Yerba maté drinks contained up to 100-fold higher amounts of antioxidants and polyphenols compared to the mainstream non-tea-based drinks, and Guayakí Yerba Maté had the largest antioxidant and polyphenol content among the tea-based drinks.

Yerba Mate contains 11 polyphenols. Polyphenols are a group of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are recently-discovered compounds that act as powerful antioxidants and are considered to exhibit anti-cancer effects in mammals by strengthening an organism`s natural defenses and protecting it against cellular destruction (i.e. lycopene in tomatoes, flavonoids in blueberries, and isoflavones in soy).

The University of Illinois associate professor of food chemical and toxicology Elvira de Mejia stated, “The caffeine derivatives in mate tea not only induced death in human colon cancer cells, they also reduced important markers of inflammation.

The study suggests that the mate tea compounds not only have potential as anti-cancer agents but may also be effective against other diseases associated with inflammation. Her study was published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research in latter part of 2011.

Yerba Mate Is Packed With Nutritional Health Benefits

• Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex

• Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc

• Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid and 15 Amino Acids.

• Theophylline, theobromine, and caffeine

There are many positive scientific studies on the benefits of yerba mate tea, and as you can see above with all the nutrients it has, it makes sense why it’s known as “The Drink of God’s”.

I’m not a big coffee drinker but, occasionally I would have a cup whenever I need a kick in the butt. Well, this past weekend I picked up my Yerba mate and it’s really a pick-me-upper. After my research, I’m even more pleased with the information and all the natural vitamins and minerals in it.

Resources:
http://www.patexia.com/feed/compounds-in-mate-tea-induce-death-in-colon-cancer-cells-2306
http://zeenews.india.com/ayurveda/yerba-mate-brew-bumps-off-colon-cancer-cells_1032.html