What is Yerba Mate?

 If you are a football fan and follow the lifestyle of the Gods of the game, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar Jr., and the likes, you would also know the beverage they all love. We are talking about Yerba mate, a traditional drink made from the dried and chopped leaves of Ilex paraguariensis, an evergreen holly native to South America.

 Pronounced mah-the, Mate is a traditional drink slightly bitter in flavor. It has become quite a health and lifestyle trend worldwide, right from South America and Europe to the Atlantic. Yerba is often referred to as Bebida de Los Dioses or Drink of the Gods, and rightly so.

 A good source of energy

 Yerba mate drink has a moderate amount of caffeine, which gives a natural and sustained energy surge. It can also stimulate mood, memory, and alertness. By stimulating the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, Yerba drink can keep you motivated, enhance your productivity, sharpen your focus and give you a good sleep.

 Besides caffeine, the Yerba energy drink also contains compounds theophylline and theobromine. These work together to create mild stimulating effects. If you’re now wondering how Yerba mate energy drink is different from your regular coffee, the answer lies in its long-lasting effects. While it rarely interferes with your sleep, this wonder drink doesn’t give you the jitters you get from coffee. It keeps you in an alert and wakeful state for long without making you crash later. It is one of the primary benefits of Yerba mate and the reason why it is the perfect drink to have before a gym session or a long day at work.

 Minerals and vitamins

 With each portion of organic Yerba Mate, you get a whole host of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5, Vitamin E, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, zinc and sulfur. Yerba mate energy contains 11 polyphenols that deliver more antioxidant power than coffee or any other tea-based beverage.

 Good for your stomach

 Regular intake of this drink can improve your digestive system and help it function more efficiently. It stimulates your body to have regular bowel movements. According to a study done at the Catedra de Farmacologia, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Yerba mate energy drink can “induce an increase in bile flow and enhance the intestinal tract.” For athletes who need to digest a high amount of calories throughout the day, this drink is one of the best options.

 Serving Yerba

 While you serve the best Yerba mate generally as a hot drink, its iced version is also becoming equally popular. The traditional way of having this brew is in a gourd made out of calabash. You can drink it with a metal or bamboo straw (bombilla), which also acts as a filter.

 Sometimes slight alterations in our lifestyle can make a big difference to our performance. With the health benefits offered by this drink, it warrants a place on your shelf. So,  move over coffee. Yerba Mate is here to stay!