Wet yerba is very conducive to mold growth, and many regular drinkers report that they can start changing into an unappetizing color after only a few hours. Yerba mate is a great drink to have in a social setting from a single gourd. One person will prepare it and pass it to another person, who will drink from the gourd through the straw. People prepare yerba mate in various ways , including in a French press, in a regular coffee maker, or the traditional way, in a gourd.
This section will focus on the traditional way to prepare yerba mate. Since the gourds are usually pretty small, many people drink several cups of yerba mate a day. It can be difficult and time-consuming to prepare yerba mate in such a way, but many people believe the traditional way is the best way to get all the flavor and health benefits out of the drink. You may be wondering what exactly those benefits are and whether they really are worth it.
A good example would be Anna Park. Allow me to extrapolate. If you store your yerba mate in a cool, dark, and dry location — preferably in a glass jar or tin — your mate will last way beyond the two year expiration date on the package those expiration dates on the label have more to do with politics than health when it comes to yerba mate. In fact, mate will most likely improve with age, with enhanced nuanced flavors and finer aromas.
Effectively, as with wine, aging can add complexity to yerba mate. In lab rats, the tea improves the flow of blood through blood vessels and reduces fat accumulation. He adds that effects seen in lab dishes and animals rarely hold up in human clinical trials.
In fact, human studies so far have sounded a note of caution for avid mate drinkers. A review of all existing studies on yerba mate, published in the journal Head and Neck, confirmed that people who regularly drink large amounts of the tea -- as much as a liter or more each day -- had significantly increased risk of cancers of the esophagus, lungs, mouth, pharynx and larynx.
Another Uruguayan study, published in the same journal in , found that in a group of about adults, mate drinking tripled the risk of esophageal cancer. De Mejia warns against taking such studies as conclusive. She says that not all the studies were well designed and did not rule out the possibility that contaminants introduced during processing -- not yerba mate -- were behind the apparent increase in cancer risk. Furthermore, in a week study in overweight people, those given 3 grams of yerba mate powder per day lost an average of 1.
In comparison, the participants given a placebo gained an average of 6. Yerba mate contains saponins, which are natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties 1 , In addition, it provides small amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium , and zinc.
These antioxidants can strengthen your immune system and promote health 23 , However, researchers have not yet investigated the direct effects of yerba mate on the human immune system. Yerba mate may help lower blood sugar and reduce the complications of diabetes.
In fact, a recent animal study reports that it may improve insulin signaling It may also reduce the formation of advanced glycation end-products AGEs , which are involved in the development and worsening of many diseases 26 , Yerba mate contains antioxidant compounds, such as caffeoyl derivatives and polyphenols, which may protect against heart disease.
Cell and animal studies also report that mate extract may provide some protection against heart disease 28 , In humans, yerba mate seems to reduce cholesterol levels. To prepare mate, fill the bottom third of the calabash with dried or toasted mate leaves prior to adding hot water. The tea is often served with burnt sugar, lemon juice, or milk and can be topped off with hot water several times before using new leaves to make a new batch.
Although traditionally consumed hot, yerba mate may also be served cold, especially in hot climates. Studies show that drinking large amounts of yerba mate for a long time may increase your risk of upper respiratory and digestive tract cancers 1 , 31 , 32 , One possible explanation is that mate contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs , known carcinogens also found in tobacco smoke and grilled meat 1.
This could damage respiratory and digestive tract lining, increasing your risk of cancerous cell formation 31 , However, some compounds in it may protect against other types of cancer 1 , Yerba mate contains caffeine.
Too much caffeine can cause headaches , migraines, and high blood pressure in some individuals 36 , Pregnant women should limit mate intake to a maximum of three cups per day. Too much caffeine may increase your risk of miscarriage and low birth weight 38 , Studies show that certain compounds in yerba mate have monoamine oxidase inhibitor MAOI activity.
Finally, due to its caffeine content, it may also interact with the muscle relaxant Zanaflex or the antidepressant Luvox. Individuals taking these drugs should avoid yerba mate, as it can increase the effects of the drugs
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