5. Yerba mate may help to improve weight loss efforts
Yerba mate, or just mate, is a traditional South American tea that’s made by pouring boiling water onto a high concentration of leaves. The active ingredients of yerba mate include polyphenols and derivatives of caffeoyl, such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, as well as different forms of dicaffeoylquinic acid. The beverage also contains saponins and phytosterols.
A study has found that yerba mate consumption before exercising could enhance the metabolism of fat without impacting maximal performance negatively. Yerba mate improved fatty acid oxidation by 24% while engaging in light and moderate exercise, with the best results achieved at lower exercise intensities.1✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1186/1743-7075-11-42
Participants were randomly assigned to drink yerba mate or placebo and then performed exercises of increasing intensity. Results revealed that participants who drank yerba mate experienced a significant increase in fatty acid oxidation and energy expenditure derived from fatty acid oxidation at exercise intensities that were below 70%.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, obese individuals who were given a yerba mate supplement lost 1.5 pounds on average over 12 weeks in comparison to individuals given a placebo who gained 6.2 pounds on average over the 12 weeks.2✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0859-1
Researchers have also shown that a dietary yerba mate supplement over a long period significantly improved body weight in obese mice that consumed a high-fat diet.3✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.3995
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