We all know it: caffeine can be addictive. This is terrible news to every person out there going through final exams, having a baby while working for a new project, or creating a startup while keeping their regular day job. Truth is, there could always be a good reason to drink a cup of coffee (or maybe a couple).

However, while containing a reasonable amount of caffeine that is considered healthy, there is one amazing South American beverage that works as the best alternative to regular coffee: the yerba mate tea caffeine. Today, you are going seven reasons why this type of herbal tea and the caffeine it contains make this drink really amazing for your health.

1. It Is Highly Nutritious

Yerba mate has approximately equal amounts of caffeine than regular coffee. However, the cocktail of abundant vitamins and minerals that accompanies this stimulant make it especially nutritious. If you drink one cup of this beverage, you will also be drinking 24 types of Vitamins and Minerals, 15 types of Amino Acid and a high concentration of antioxidants (which it’s even higher than in green tea).

Moreover, yerba mate provides 11 percent of the daily value riboflavin, small amounts of potassium, B and C vitamins, zinc and magnesium. And if it was not enough, it also has trace amounts of thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, folate, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese. This abundant amount of nutrients has made the yerba mate caffeine gained its own name “Mateine”.

2. The Yerba Mate Caffeine Will Make You Feel So Much More Energized

Caffeinated drinks are great to boost your energy, but after the effect is gone, you keep craving for more. In contrast to other drinks, the yerba mate caffeine lets you enjoy the energy boost for longer periods of time without having to overdose. Its nature of steady energy and the ability to prevent a possible caffeine meltdown are the two main reason why athletes have included this type of caffeine in their regular diet.

General studies show that the caffeine in yerba mate can reduce fatigue while increasing physical endurance, alertness and focus. All of this without causing anxiety or unhealthy changes in your heart rate and blood pressure.

3. It Helps To Keep Those Extra Kilos Off

Because of its great capacity to increase satiety, yerba mate could facilitate weight loss. The ingredients present in the drink (mainly the caffeine) also help reduce body fat by increasing the lipolysis, a process your body goes through to break down fat. And if you spend some hours at the gym weekly, mate can also help you increase the effectiveness of your workout.

Mate also aids in digestion, decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and lowers LDL cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure, thanks to its highly contain of Theobromine. All this combined can help you keep your body lean and ready for summer. Finally, researches have also shown that yerba mate can help treat obesity and diabetes.

4. It Is Good For Your Stomach

Caffeine effects for your stomach depend widely. If you drink concentrated caffeine drinks, you will be looking for the nearest restroom. Researches have shown that caffeine can activate contractions in your colon and intestinal muscles which push contents towards its last destination in your digestive tract.

Caffeine in yerba mate, on the other hand, has an alkaline base. This means that it counteracts the effects of the acidity in your stomach. Its neutralized effect will allow you to start the morning without having to go to the toilet after drinking.

This is also the reason why yerba mate could also be the perfect alternative to those suffering from gastritis or sensitive stomach.

5. Forget About Anxiety And Depression

The combination of caffeine and theobromine present in the Yerba Mate not only help boost your mood but can also eliminate the presence of anxiety and jitters, both side effects of drinking coffee.

However, it is important to remind you that yerba mate caffeine is still caffeine. Even though it’s combined with amazing nutrients that make it healthier than any other beverage with caffeine, remember to consume it in moderation. Double check with your doctor if you’re taking chemo or depression medications and antibiotics, since it might interact with the mate. It is also not recommended when you’re pregnant or breast feeding.

Finally, it is important to address one last rumor. Mate has dealt with controversy in the past as some studies had linked drinking mate to cancer. However, the evidence found in its potential carcinogenic qualities is only present when drinking mate at very high temperatures or in very high quantities (more than twice a day). Nonetheless, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has deemed mate as not carcinogenicity to humans.

Summing Up

So the bottom line is that yerba mate contains quite elevated levels of caffeine. Besides that, there are a lot of other beneficial substances and vitamins in this herbal brew. These things combined, make yerba mate a great drink to savor whenever you get the chance.