Side Effects and Safety Concerns
Is it safe to drink the beverage everyday? The tea is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken in large amounts or for long periods of time. Drinking it (1-2 liters daily) for a long time increases the risk of some cancers. The risk is high for people who smoke or drink alcohol.
What are the side effects of the plant? It contains caffeine, causing insomnia, upset stomach, faster heart rate. The beverage is possibly unsafe in large amounts or long periods.
Comparison to Coffee
Is the tea safer than coffee? It fights parasites and cleans the digestive tract naturally, keeping it healthy. So it is safer than coffee.
- One cup (150 ml) contains 80 mg caffeine, like coffee.
- South Americans safely drink 1–4 liters daily.
- In the U.S., Canada, Europe, avid drinkers consume 1–2 liters daily.
The plant has more caffeine than green tea, offering more fat burning and metabolism boosting benefits. It is also a more potent appetite suppressant.
In the liver, treatment normalized antioxidant enzymes and decreased lipid peroxidation and triglycerides. It also restored steatosis level.
The beverage has diuretic and slightly laxative effects. It reduces fluid retention, improves kidney function, helps the body eliminate toxins and purify itself.
Preparation and Composition
The plant is made by steeping dried leaves in hot water. It can be served cold or hot. It has caffeine like black or green tea. Drinking it isn’t linked to health issues for most adults. A daily cup with 3 grams leaves may be safe for 12 weeks.
Studies suggest the tea may positively impact cholesterol, weight loss, heart health, inflammation and cancer risk. But more research is needed.
Possible Causes
Some studies link the tea to esophageal cancer. But drinking any very hot liquid elevates esophageal cancer risk. Heavy, daily consumption in South America is common. Thus esophageal cancer is more prevalent there.
The temperature affects cancer risk more than the mate itself. Confounding factors like smoking make interpreting the data difficult. Studies suggest cancer mainly results from frequent, long-term consumption of very hot mate. This allows cell damage from heat to enhance carcinogenic effect.
Drinking cooler mate appears less risky. But the plant likely interacts with genetic and lifestyle factors to influence cancer risk. Research continues on composition and cancer mechanisms. Individual differences affect outcomes.
Effects on the Body
What does the plant do to your body?
The tea is made from the leaves of a South American holly plant. It contains caffeine and antioxidants. Some possible health benefits are increased energy, enhanced physical performance, and improved digestion. However, drinking very hot mate may increase cancer risk as the leaves contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons also found in tobacco smoke and grilled meat. More research is needed on the safety and side effects.