The Hidden Benefits Of Yerba Mate

If you're planning on starting a new diet, you will probably hear about the new South African tea that has found its way into our culture. It is called Yerba Mate, and has been referred to as the perfect beverage.

This tea helps detoxify the body, metabolize fat, control hunger, restore hair color, retard aging, increase libido and increase energy all without the negative effects typical of other caffeinated beverages. Natural and effective, Yerba Mate naturally aids in weight loss and weight control.

Paraguay and Argentina are the largest cultivators of Yerba Mate, and the people were the first to discover its benefits using it as a main ingredient in medical cures and a way to maintain a health life. It has been found to inhibit oral cancer cell proliferation by a study conducted at the University of Illinois, and it is also now known that Yerba Mate contains cancer-fighting properties.

It is full of antioxidants, Vitamins A, C and E as well as many phytochemicals. Phytochemicals contain powerful antioxidants and augment immune defenses and protect against cellular destruction. Saponins are also found in Yerba Mate and have been found to protect against disease by inciting immune response. Drinking Mate tea, however, should not substitute eating fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce risk of cancer.

The complete list of Yerba Mate's vitamins, minerals, and natural compounds are as follows:
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.

It contains the alkaloids caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. These alkaloids stimulate the central nervous system, act as diuretics, suppress appetite, and boost metabolism. Yerba Mate also contains much less caffeine than coffee - only about 1-2%. Theobromine, however, has the most important diet properties.

Theobromine is much like caffeine, though it's a stronger relaxant for smooth muscles, a stronger diuretic, and a weaker nerve stimulant than caffeine. Theobromine thus allows for the body to shed more water while boosting metabolism and suppressing hunger, all of which combine to aid in successful diets.

There are several factors in weight management. Caloric restrictions and exercise are the most common, but both are inherently difficult and require significant control. Thermogenesis (sweat), appetite suppression and increased diuresis can also reduce weight and help maintain it. Yerba Mate extracts do the above and increase metabolism, which overall can help reduce the water weight. Yerba Mate can improve the probability of achieving and maintaining weight goals.

At first taste, Mate is generally herbal, grassy, and similar to green tea. It is best steeped in hot water, not boiling water (to avoid bitterness.) Yerba Mate is gentle on the stomach, and though it contains caffeine, it lacks the negative effects such as jitteriness, diarrhea, and heart palpitation.

To date, studies have shown Yerba Mate to be beneficial for immunity, increasing metabolism, detoxification, metabolizing fat, increasing libido, alleviating insomnia, retarding the effects of aging, and increasing energy. In essence, it may well be the perfect addition to any weight loss program, but more importantly, to any health lifestyle.

About The Author-- Steve Gray is the owner of DecideHealth.com and offers strategies and solutions for health and weight loss that work.

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