There’s been a lot of discussion about the question of “Is yerba mate safe?”, and that’s a valid question given that there may be a correlation between yerba mate and certain health issues (namely some people seem to link it to cancer issues). Before looking at that question though, let’s look at another first, and explain just what yerba mate is for the uninitiated. Perhaps you’ve had someone recommend it to you or you’ve heard the buzz and want to know more.

The leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant will be dried and steeped in hot water to make a kind of herbal tea. The tea, commonly referred to simply as “mate” has become popular across South America and is creeping into Central America and the United States. Much like black tea, yerba mate has small amounts of the stimulant caffeine.

Yerba mate can be found in health stores across America, and is available through lots of online outlets too. Proponents of the drink advocate that mate helps to boost weight loss, ease depression, relieve fatigue, treat headaches, and also is beneficial in a range of other health conditions. Then there is the issue that yerba mate could be connected with cancer.

So, Is Yerba Mate Safe?

The simple fact is that yerba mate isn’t likely going to pose health risks for healthy adults that enjoy it in moderation. Studies have suggested that people who drink a lot of yerba mate, are also people who especially love to smoke and are heavy smokers. They are at a higher risk of cancers of the mouth, lungs, and esophagus, but not because of mate consumptions, but other underlying factors caused by smoking. That is why it is hard to link cancer to yerba mate, since the sample of people used in the studies are actually consumers of nicotine from smoking heavily.

It’s important to keep in mind that correlation is not causation, and that even if there have been people correlating yerba mate consumption to cancer, we cannot state that the tea is the cause for it, but rather the unhealthy habits of the samples of people used in the study. The basic reality is that the answer to the question “is yerba mate good for you?” is “yes”. Here are some of the potential health benefits of this herbal tea:

1. Rich in Antioxidants

Yerba mate tea is packed full of powerful antioxidants; it has around 90% more antioxidants than green tea, which is considered to be one of the healthiest drinks around. It comes with a range of powerful immune boosting properties. Yerba mate can detoxify the blood, slow down the signs of aging, and actually work to fight against many different kinds of cancer. So much for the idea that it causes cancer. It can also help with insomnia and stress.

2. Improves Focus

Proponents of yerba mate say that the antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols found in the beverage help to balance out the effects of the caffeine it contains. That’s how it can work to help insomnia despite technically being a stimulate. Yerba mate drinkers report having increased mental clarity, energy, and focus. They add that yerba mate doesn’t come with the uncomfortable side effects of drinking caffeinated beverages, including things like headaches, jitters, and stomach aches.

3. Improves Physical Endurance

Yerba mate is packed full of chemical compounds that boost your metabolism and get your body to better utilize carbohydrates. Put simply, it means that your body will get more energy from the food you consume. You will also be able to burn more of the calories stored in fat cells as fuel when regularly drinking mate. Regular consumption of yerba mate can help to prevent lactic acid from building up in muscles, allowing you to work out without getting so sore and recover faster from an intense workout.

4. Improves Digestion

The native people of South America understand that yerba mate can be good for you. They have been using it for years as a traditional herbal remedy to fight digestive problems. It aids digestion by stimulating the production of bile and other gastric acids. Yerba mate also helps to keep the colon clean for efficient and effective waste disposal, and helps keep levels of stomach bacteria in check to prevent health conditions.

5. Helps to Manage Weight

Another benefit the South American people gleaned from yerba mate was using it as part of a healthy lifestyle including diet and exercise. The tea has stimulant qualities that help you to feel fuller when eating a meal. It also slows down the digestion process to make you feel full for longer. Combining yerba mate with a healthy diet and exercise regimen boosts your metabolism to burn through even more calories. When you add in the mild appetite suppressant qualities, you’ve got a great natural weight loss aid.

6. Supports Cardiovascular Health

The antioxidants and amino acids found in yerba mate help to push cholesterol and fat through the bloodstream, preventing them from building up on artery walls and becoming a problem. The herbal tea also helps to prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and prevents the blood clots that can cause strokes and heart attacks.

There are some people who are a little worried about whether or not yerba mate is safe. Not only is it good for you, but yerba mate is also safe to drink. The question is how much yerba should you drink? The answer is not precise and you have to remember that different people in different places will have varying drinking habits. Some people in South America drink upwards of 10 cups per day. While people in the US might only drink 2-3 cups a day. So how much you should drink varies and is a matter of preference. Drink as much as you feel comfortable with, in moderation.

7. Yerba Mate And Cancer Correlation

Furthermore, we must underline the fact that the correlation between mate and cancer was only found with people that drank too much yerba mate or were engaging in other activities known to cause cancer such as smoking.

Digging a bit deeper into the composition of yerba mate, I must note that one potential explanation for the supposed connection to cancer – if indeed it exists – is that yerba mate does contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are known carcinogens. But, PAHs are also found in grilled meat and tobacco smoke. This doesn’t mean that yerba mate causes cancer though. There must be more research done to fully verify the side effects of yerba mate, both positive and negative, and the samples picked should contain non-smokers for the results to be accurate and valid.

Summing Up

If you are like me and you enjoy a good cup of tea, then rest assured that yerba mate is safe to drink and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it in moderation. As is the case with any other kind of herbal product though, you should consult your physician if you have any concerns about how your body will respond to yerba mate. Everyone responds to things differently, after all.