The South American brew is made from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It contains antioxidants, saponins, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, and other nutrients.
The tisane is traditionally consumed in South America. In Argentina, over 90% of households drink the infusion. People often share it as a sign of friendship. They drink it throughout the day by adding more hot water. Drinking yerba mate is a social ritual.
The oxalate content is similar to green tea. Consuming high amounts may increase kidney stone risk for susceptible people. Moderation is recommended to gain benefits but minimize risks.
Compared to green tea, it is higher in antioxidants like chlorogenic acid but does not contain catechins. It also has amino acid l-theanine which may reduce anxiety.
Excess oxalate can cause kidney stones in some people. Symptoms are abdominal pain and nausea.
High caffeine intake may cause headaches, nausea and high blood pressure. Excessive drinking is linked to upper digestive tract cancers.
The herbal drink supports fat burning, protects cells from damage, and regulates blood sugar. The variety, processing method and brewing technique affect nutrient levels.
Rooibos tea, chamomile tea, and peppermint tea are shown in scientific research to be extremely low in oxalates. Peppermint may help promote good kidney function. The soluble oxalate content of the herbal teas ranged from not detected to 3.00 mg/g tea. Among black teas, Sir Roger Earl Grey had the highest levels of oxalate. The lowest levels of oxalate were determined in green tea with quince fruit.
This study found that the calyces of the hibiscus flower are anti-urolithiatic and can be consumed with no harmful effects, meaning drinking hibiscus tea may prevent kidney stones. As long as an herbal tea blend doesn’t contain any ingredients high in oxalates, these teas are usually safe to drink.
Maybe citrus teas such as lemon or orange are your choice? These teas may be beneficial if you are prone to developing kidney stones. First, like many herbal teas, they are very low in oxalate content. Also, the citrate content may help prevent stones from forming and break up small stones.
I also enjoy herbal teas, but these are separate drinks, and low oxalate options haven’t filled the void. About a year ago, I decided to kick the habit for good.
Peppermint tea contains 0.41 mg oxalate per cup. Green tea and oolong tea have lower oxalate contents, ranging from 0.23 to 1.15 mg per gram of tea leaves. Peppermint helps promote kidney function but is not recommended for kidney stone formers as it contains some soluble oxalate. As long as a tea doesn’t contain high oxalate ingredients, it is safe to drink for those restricting intake.
Oxalates can bind to calcium and form kidney stones. Discard the water used for blanching, boiling, or steaming tea. Black tea has more oxalates than green tea. Herbal teas are very low in oxalates. For kidney stone formers, add milk to black tea. The calcium lowers oxalate absorption. All teas are low in oxalates compared to common foods. Cooking high-oxalate foods with milk reduces soluble oxalate.