I was introduced to a natural product called yerba mate
(pronounced yerba mah-tae) about two years ago, initially
as a component of diet supplements and appetite
suppressants, and then as a healthier alternative to
coffees and some teas as an energy booster.
It turns out, the more I learned about this fascinating
natural plant, there are many therapeutic uses that can be
used to promote overall health, and it's not just another
recreational energy drink like coffee, and well, energy
drinks!
My interest in using yerba mate as an energy boosting drink
stemmed from the fact that I am very caffeine sensitive,
specifically to the caffeine that is present in America's
favorite caffeinated beverage, coffee.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still known to once in a while
indulge in a latte at Starbucks, but it is much less often
than it used to be after I've found an alternative that not
only contains no calories, but also offers a plethora of
other health benefits with it. That's a win/win to me!
You see, yerba mate is chemically very similar to green
tea, and I'm sure by now you've heard all the studies and
research that have touted the antioxidant and health
benefits of green and white tea.
Well, it's very possible that yerba mate may even be a
little higher in some of these micronutrients and
beneficial natural compounds as well, it's just not as well
publicized or popular, perhaps because of the name and that
it is not promoted as a "tea".
This, combined with the fact that some find the taste of
yerba mate to be undesirable compared with traditional teas
may be the reason why yerba mate hasn't grown gangbusters
in popularity. This can be easily remedied though, by
mixing it with a natural sweetener, or what I do sometimes
is mix it with a little organic peppermint tea, and this
taste is then quite appealing.
Since yerba mate is sold in health food stores, in tea bags
that are ready for steeping, it is also just as convenient
as green tea, it just may be a little harder to find.
Some of the benefits that have been reported for yerba mate
are increases in energy that are sustained and are not
followed by the typical "crash and burn" that are
associated with other caffeinated beverages like coffee,
stronger teas, and energy drinks.
Also, yerba mate is very high in natural antioxidants,
which helps promote healthy skin, healthy heart, and
healthy cell reproduction which can translate into a
decreased cancer risk, since cancer is in effect the
unhealthy reproduction of cells.
Not only that, but some of the other, more speculative
benefits associated with yerba mate as of late are
increased endurance in exercise due to increased oxygen
levels in the blood as well as healthier cell production, a
decrease in hunger or appetite, mood improvement,
acceleration of caloric metabolism, and even increased
focus. Sounds better than the benefits of coffee already,
huh?
I don't know about you, but coffee most definitely does not
result in either sustained energy or a lack of an energy
crash after the surge, so right there, this alternative is
better for me personally and I suspect for thousands of
others who experience the same thing on other energy drinks.
Yerba mate has caught on more in the more organic and
health conscious communities, which I am pleased to say is
spreading to areas of the world that were previously more
uninformed about the benefits of natural alternatives and
healthier choices.
It seems that nowadays everyone is more conscientious of
what they are putting into their bodies, and there is more
of an abundance of health information resources available
to everyone, not just "niche culture" or niche communities.
People are looking for ways to enhance their health and
promote their longevity, as well as decrease their risk of
catastrophic and life quality impairing diseases and health
issues, and yerba mate is a hot drink that fits in very
nicely with that set of values and goals in today's more
health conscious society.
----------------------------------------------------
Danna Schneider is the cofounder of
http://www.dietingmagazine.com , where you can find
information on weightloss products, fitness equipment and
diet reviews, and dieting tips for losing weight. She also
founded http://www.fitnessnewsmagazine.com , a site
dedicated to the latest offerings and breakthroughs in
weight loss and fitness, with the latest reviews of new
fitness equipment and accessories and workout reviews.
No comments:
Post a Comment