Yerba mate: origins, properties, and contraindications

Yerba Mate

Originally from South America, Yerba Mate It has also become very popular in the rest of the world. This is due to its countless properties: antioxidant, energizing, digestive, diuretic. It is also believed to increase metabolism and is therefore often recommended in weight-loss diets. Beneficial properties Well known to the Guarani, the ethnic group credited with its discovery and, in particular, its use as an infusion. It's no coincidence that they considered it a sacred plant. Let's find out more. the origins, properties and contraindications.

YERBA MATE: WHAT IS IT?

Typical plant of South AmericaYerba Mate has become increasingly popular even in our latitudes. The plant from which it is obtained belongs to the Aquifoliaceae family, and is a evergreen.

The famous herb is obtained from the leaves beverage, the mate, which boasts countless properties. But how is it obtained? The plant's leaves are dried, chopped, and then steeped in boiling water.

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YERBA MATE: ORIGINS

Native to South America, its name derives from the Guarany language and from the term “Caa-mate” where “caa” stands for plant and “mate” indicates the gourd-container in which it is traditionally prepared.

It is believed that it was already consumed by the Kaingang ethnic group, although it was the Guaraní who introduced its consumption in the form of an infusion. Among this ethnic group it was considered a sacred plant, extremely beneficial.

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PROPERTIES OF YERBA MATE

La Yerba Mate It has become popular because it boasts numerous beneficial properties. In fact, it contains vitamins (A, C, B1, B2, B3), potassium, manganese, Iron, magnesium, phosphorus, theobromine, theophylline, caffeine.

Here are the main ones beneficial properties:

• Increases metabolism and is therefore recommended during slimming diets;
• It performs aantioxidant action thanks to the high polyphenol content;
• Has a energizing effect due to the presence of caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system and promotes, among other things, concentration;
• Improves digestion by speeding it up and helping to make us feel full thanks to theobromine. Another reason why it is recommended in diets;
• It plays a diuretic effect helping the body eliminate harmful toxins;
• It is believed to stimulate the heart muscle thanks to the theophylline it contains.

ALSO READ: Eliminate toxins and purify the body: natural remedies, starting with nutrition

CAFFEINE CONTENT OF YERBA MATE

Yerba Mate contains caffeine even if it is in a lower percentage than coffee. A feature to take into consideration especially if you suffer from hypertension or heart disease. Just like the coffee, it can also create nervousness and irritation if consumed in excessive doses.

DRINK WITH YERBA MATE

The drink can be prepared by leaving infuse Yerba Mate leaves in boiling waterAfter a few minutes, the water should simply be filtered and drunk.

ALSO READ: Infusions: how to prepare them and why they are different from teas, herbal teas, and decoctions

HOW TO DRINK MATE?

Traditionally the drink is prepared in mate, a container equipped with a special drinking straw called bombilla, with a mouthpiece on one end and a filter on the other, from which the beverage is drunk directly after pouring the leaves into it.

HOW MANY CUPS CAN YOU DRINK A DAY?

Yerba Mate infusions are recommended in the morning and evening, unless you want to take advantage of its diuretic effect. In that case, you can drink a little more. But be careful not to overdo it because, as we said, it contains caffeine and can therefore cause irritation and nervousness, just like coffee.

Contraindications of Yerba Mate

It has no particular features contraindications ma be careful of excesses. If you drink too much, you may experience:

• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• gastrointestinal disorders
• nervousness and irritability since, as we were saying, it is an energizer

It may also interfere with some medications.

WHERE TO BUY YERBA MATE

Yerba Mate is not difficult to find on the market, you can buy it in normal supermarkets, in fair trade shops, in herbalists And in the organic shops. To you the choice!

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