Health Benefits
Mate contains:
- Antioxidant compounds
- May protect against heart disease
- Some studies suggest mate tea reduces cholesterol levels
- Xanthines, including:
- Caffeine
- Theobromine
- Small amounts of vitamins and nutrients
Potential Health Risks
When taken excessively over long periods, mate tea may:
- Increase cancer risk, especially for smokers and drinkers
Pregnant women should consult doctors before drinking mate.
General Safety and Precautions
Most people can drink mate safely. But avoid excessive caffeine intake. Also use caution if you have certain conditions or are pregnant.
Some studies link mate to helpful effects like:
- Weight loss
- Immune boosting
- Physical performance enhancement
But more studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Mate does not seem to interfere with sleep. It provides a balanced energy boost.
Mate is used to make a drink called mate. When served cold, it is tereré. Traditionally consumed in South America, mate was first grown by indigenous communities before European settlement.
Mate is full of healthy compounds like:
- Antioxidants
- Saponins
- Caffeoyl derivatives
It is more nutritious than coffee or tea because of these compounds. The antioxidants may help prevent cancer. But more research is needed on mate’s impact on cancers of the throat and mouth, especially when drunk very hot.
Drinking a lot of mate may increase:
- Blood pressure
- Pregnancy risks
- Blood lipids for some with heart disease or arrhythmias
Still, South Americans safely drink 1-4 liters daily. Avid drinkers outside South America consume 1-2 liters per day.
You can reuse the mate leaves 10-30 times until the flavor fades. Brewed mate lasts up to two years. It provides an energy boost without the “crash” of coffee.
Overview
Mate is a tea from South America containing:
- Caffeine
- Theobromine
- Antioxidants
- Beneficial plant compounds
Safety
Drinking very hot mate can cause mouth sores. The heat and compounds interact with the membranes, disrupting cell balance.
Some research shows mate has anticancer effects like green tea, while other research links mate, especially when consumed very hot, to cancers of the mouth and throat. More research is needed.
The stimulants in mate provide an energy boost and increased alertness. But for those with heart disease or arrhythmia, mate could increase complications.
The plant compounds in mate may have neuroprotective effects by:
- Preventing oxidative damage
- Regulating metabolism
But more research is needed on the brain effects.
While mate stimulation feels different than coffee, there is no evidence it has psychedelic or hallucinogenic properties. The unique feelings may come from interactions between its components.
Mate is a popular South American drink made from plant leaves. Mate contains helpful nutrients and caffeine. For most adults mate is safe if drank daily in moderate amounts. But drinking very hot mate for a long time may increase cancer risk. More research on mate is needed.
Some people drink mate instead of coffee. The caffeine in mate can help you feel more awake and focused. Mate may also help with:
- Weight loss
- Cholesterol
- Swelling
- Heart health
- Lowering cancer risk
But more studies are required to confirm if mate helps with these.
Mate has:
- Antioxidant compounds that may help prevent cell damage
- Caffeine that stimulates the brain and body, improving mental focus and physical energy
However, drinking very hot mate for many years causes esophageal cancer. So mate is best consumed at moderate temperatures.
Overall, mate is a healthy beverage with lots of nutrients. It provides an energy boost similar to coffee. For most people mate is safe to drink daily, if you avoid very hot temperatures. But more research on its long-term use is still needed.