Yerba Mate for your Brain: Benefits and Effects

Yerba Mate has become popular in recent years as a less harsh wakefulness-promoting alternative to coffee. This plant is a natural source of caffeine, but is noted for producing a smooth and stable boost in energy, unlike the peak and crash sometimes associated with coffee and other energy drinks.

Yerba Mate is used is a natural nootropic for increased alertness and vigilance, but it can also have a positive effect on your mood. Reviews say that Yerba Mate is particularly effective at heightening mental clarity for long durations when studying or working long days at the office.

These reports are backed up by a recent study from Brazilian scientists which found that this herbal tea can heighten short-term intellectual function.

Yerba Mate

Herbal Supplement

Energy

Mental Clarity

Immunity

How It Works:

• Helps with physical & mental fatigue
• Source of anti-oxidants & polyphenols
• Supports immunity & weight loss

Dosage:

500 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate is a plant that traditionally consumed in subtropical areas of South America like Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

The plant begins as a shrub and then matures into a tree which can grow up to 50 feet tall. The leaves are evergreen and do contain caffeine and a number of related compounds which are harvested commercially.

This plant was first used and cultivate by the Guarani, an indigenous people living in the area. Yerba Mate was scientifically classified by the Swiss botanist Moses Bertoni, who settled in Paraguay in 1895.

Prior to its use as a nutritional supplement, Yerba Mate was (and still is) used as an infusion or drink similar to that of tea in European cultures. The flavor of this drink is said to resemble an infusion of vegetables, herbs, and grass. It is also considered to be similar in taste to some varieties of green tea.

As a drink, this supplement is available in flavored extract varieties where the tea has been blended with other herbs such as peppermint or citrus rind. Yerba Mate contains various nutrients such as Inositol, Selenium, Magnesium, Fatty Acids, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, E, and a selection of powerful anti-oxidants and immune boosting compounds.

Yerba Mate Effects:

There are several known effects and methods of action for Yerba Mate. In fact, it works fairly similarly to tea (particularly green tea). One of its main characteristics is that it acts as a central nervous system stimulant, due to the presence of caffeine. This also means that at least some of the individual ingredients and components of the supplement are able to cross over the blood-brain barrier and then enter into the central nervous system.

As a source of ingredients like anti-oxidants, amino acids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals, Yerba Mate supports whole body health and cognitive function on several different levels. You might even say it is a multi-vitamin for your brain in and of itself.

Research has also shown that this supplements works by influencing systems related to energy metabolism and cellular function. Ultimately, this results in higher levels of extracellular ATP, ADP, and AMP.

It also acts as a vasodilator, helping to open up blood vessels by causing smooth muscles to relax. This helps to improve blood flow, and overall cardiovascular function. There is even speculation that these mechanisms of action may lead to novel methods of manipulating vascular regenerative factors and help to treat issues like heart disease.

Yerba Mate Benefits:

One of the most important components of Yerba Mate is anti-oxidants.

In fact, this supplement contains 90% more anti-oxidants than even the best varieties of green tea. This means that there are significant immune boosting properties associated with its supplementation.

Additionally, it helps to remove free radicals from the brain and body, along with other toxins and harmful substances. Oxidation happens at a particularly rapid rate in your brain where so much energy is utilized (up to 20% of total energy utilization). This may even lead to slowing the signs of aging, detoxifying cells, and possibly even preventing many types of cancer.

This supplement also enhances your ability to concentrate and focus. The vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, amino acids, and polyphenols tend to have a balancing effect on the caffeine that it also contains. Many users report increased mental energy and clarity but without any of the normal side effects associated with traditional caffeinated beverages (headaches, nervousness). It also helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia for many users.

Furthermore, Yerba Mate is observed to enhance physical endurance. This is a result of the supplement’s ability help the body metabolize carbohydrates more efficiently. You will derive more energy from food and burn more calories from your fat stores. This also helps to keep lactic acid from building up in the muscle cells, which should decrease post-workout soreness and speed up recovery time. Many of these effects will require regular use of Yerba Mate.

Yerba Mate Dosage:

At the moment there is not a recommended dose for Yerba Mate. However, many experts and researchers definitely advise drinking this supplement in moderation, since very high doses have been linked to increases in the risk for certain types of cancers. As with anything else, you would want to check with your doctor or qualified medical professional before adding this supplement to your normal routine.

The dose you use is going to be dependent on several different factors, such as your reasons for taking Yerba Mate as well as the form of extract you are using. As a tea, it is common to drink between 1 – 3 cups of this beverage in a day. If you are using a Yerba Mate supplement, you will typically use a 500 mg dosage once a day.

However, the exact dosage you use will be affected by the concentration of ingredients in the product you are using. For example, if you are taking a highly concentrated supplement with a greater standardized caffeine and polyphenol content, you may end up using a smaller dose size. The best advice is to follow instructions provided by the manufacturer of whichever Yerba Mate source you choose.

Yerba Mate Side Effects:

Although this supplement is generally regarded as safe and fairly well-tolerated in healthy adults (of course native South American populations have been using it for hundreds of years), there are some associated side effects.

This can include insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, headache, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and ringing in the ears. Most of these would only present when this supplement is consumed in high doses. If any of these side effects are seen, discontinue use and seek medical advice.

Yerba Mate Review:

The natural health community has been buzzing about Yerba Mate quite a lot within the last few years. One of its most remarkable qualities is the incredibly high content of different nutrients and active ingredients. This herbal extract has immune-enhancing properties and is one of the most effective anti-oxidants available today.

As a nootropic, it can be used in the place of tea or coffee to support a cognitive enhancement stack. While the brain boosting characteristics of Yerba Mate are only evidenced in the short-term, it can contribute to long-term brain health. We recommend using it together with a stack of a Racetam like Piracetam and Choline for the best results.

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