The Truth About Yerba Mate: Health Benefits, Risks, and Controversy

[moe darklight]

Where I grew up, everyone drinks mate, and I still do sometimes at home. This is from a news article, it summarizes most of what I've read about it:

A growing number of researchers are, in fact, investigating the drink. But “we still have a long way to go before we really know its benefits and risks,” says Elvira de Mejia, associate professor of food chemistry and food toxicology at the University of Illinois. What’s particularly lacking is human studies, she says, because most mate studies involve cells or animals.

CR's Take

The jury's still out on yerba mate's possible health benefits, so beware of marketing claims that make the drink sound like a cure-all.

Some test-tube studies suggest that mate may fight cancer cells; other research suggests it may lower LDL cholesterol or have other cardiovascular benefits. But additional research is needed. Likewise, Natural Medicine Ratings from the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the leading medical reference on natural remedies, states that mate might aid in weight loss when combined with other botanicals, but there‘s not nearly enough reliable evidence to be sure.

Mate’s makeup is, however, unique. It contains both polyphenols and saponins, chemicals believed to be anticarcinogenic. (In fact, according to de Mejia, it’s possible that the tea might help fight bad breath, because polyphenols have an antimicrobial effect.) But while some researchers have found mate to pack more antioxidants than green tea, de Mejia says it depends on the brand.

Some studies have reported an increased risk for esophageal and other cancers among heavy mate drinkers in South America. But the evidence is inconclusive and suggests that the way mate is consumed there--at extremely hot temperatures and intensely concentrated amounts--might be a key factor.

Mate does contain caffeine. The drink can have anywhere from half to slightly lower levels of it than coffee, which can affect blood glucose and blood pressure and elevate your heart rate. Talk to your doctor before drinking it if you have diabetes or hypertension or if you are trying to get pregnant.

how much truth is there to all these claims? these days, it seems like every week something turns good for your health, then bad for your health, then good again, etc. etc. etc.
also, how does mate compare to green tea for health benefits?

from the sounds of it, not an awful lot of research has gone into this, but it sounds interesting (at least for someone who grew up with this drink).

While I'm asking on the subject, might as well post some cool info on the subject of "mateine vs. caffeine," or if there even is a difference (hint: no).
I post it because this is a pretty big myth in Argentina, since everyone is constantly (and I mean constantly) drinking mate.

Erowid receives semi-regular notes from well intentioned visitors telling us that yerba maté does not contain caffeine, but instead contains a chemical called "mateine". After looking into the issue several times in the past, we have decided to write a brief description of why we believe that caffeine is the major psychoactive chemical in yerba maté and mateine is simply another name for caffeine.

It appears that several articles available online are completely bogus, having been either faked by a vendor to improve sales or a yerba mate fan in order to explain why they liked yerba maté tea and not other types of caffeinated tea. Almost all of the online discussions or mentions of mateine lead back to a single source, Daniel Mowry. Mowry provides no credible scientific references for his claims about mateine, mentioning only a couple of institutes who have reportedly done work with yerba mate. The only expert he cites, Dr. Jose Martin, when contacted by the author of an article about yerba mate, "said there is no unique chemical structure for mateine and that yerba mate contains caffeine, just like coffee".2

One of the errors in the literature upon which the "mateine" claims are based is the claim that mateine is a stereoisomer of caffeine. This stands out because, there are no stereoisomers of caffeine. In order to have a stereoisomer, a chemical nearly always (see below) must have a stereocenter. The caffeine molecule lacks a stereocenter, does not have one of the unusual special cases, and thus there are no stereoisomers. This error, repeated widely, has had no foundation in the scientific literature.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/yerba_mate/yerba_mate_chemistry1.shtml

 

[DougF]

In the last 50 years I have see / heard / read that all kinds of things were bad for you a short list off the top of my head
Hot dogs,
Steak,
Baked Potato's,
Can Tuna,

the list go's on and on

all or most all have been pardoned with moderation.

moral of this story don't overdo it and stay away from the junk food, it will be fine.

 

[ravenprp]

Based on the information presented in the article, it seems that there is still a lot of uncertainty and lack of research when it comes to the potential health benefits and risks of yerba mate. While some studies suggest it may have certain health benefits, more human studies are needed to confirm these claims. Additionally, there are potential risks associated with consuming mate, such as its caffeine content and the way it is consumed in South America.

Compared to green tea, it seems that yerba mate may have similar health benefits due to its polyphenol and saponin content, but the amount and quality of these antioxidants may vary depending on the brand. It is also important to note that mate contains caffeine, which may have different effects on individuals depending on their health status.

The concept of "mateine" being a different compound from caffeine appears to be a myth, as there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The chemical makeup of yerba mate suggests that it does indeed contain caffeine, which may contribute to its potential health benefits and risks.

In conclusion, while yerba mate may be a popular and traditional drink in certain regions, more research is needed to fully understand its effects on human health. It is always important to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any new food or drink into your routine, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.