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Discover the health benefits of yerba mate

The benefits of yerba mate for human health have been widely discussed in research bodies and universities. Far beyond being an ingredient in drinks such as chimarrão, tererê and tea, the plant, found in southern Brazil and other South American countries, has proved to be beneficial for treating the body over the years.

Keep following our article and learn more about the compounds found in the plant and how consuming yerba mate can benefit your health.

What are the health benefits of yerba mate?

The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa - Florestas), located in the municipality of Colombo, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, Paraná, has been researching issues related to yerba mate for 30 years. However, until 2008, the focus was solely on agronomic and productivity issues.

Cristiane Helm, an industrial chemist with a PhD in Food Science and Technology, has also started studying the chemical composition of yerba mate and how to enhance this raw material. As well as yerba mate, the same focus is being given to other native species such as pine nuts.

Yerba mate is classified only as a stimulant by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) because it contains caffeine. However, during its analysis at Empraba, 192 chemical compounds were identified which are important for the maintenance of the human body.

As Cristiane explained, the composition of yerba mate goes far beyond methylxanthines, which are caffeine, theobromine and theophylline. It contains phenolic compounds (antioxidants), flavonoids, simple sugars, minerals, B vitamins, dietary fiber and even protein. "It's very rare to find a plant tissue that has protein and in yerba mate we find a high content. Within these proteins we also have essential amino acids, which are fundamental for building tissues, muscles, hormones and enzymes," said the researcher.

In order to better understand how yerba mate can actually benefit human health, the research conducted by Cristiane went further and also sought to understand how these compounds were absorbed by the human body. "We know that not everything we eat, is absorbed. To understand what this was like with yerba mate, we partnered with the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). We evaluated the entire behavior of the plant in the gastrointestinal tract and identified that the compounds end up being absorbed in the intestine, which is what we want. As a result, it really does prove to be very beneficial for the body" she explained.

Therefore, she explained that the literature is already vast when it comes to researching the health benefits of yerba mate and it is already being associated with complementary treatment and aid in the prevention of various diseases.

Doing a quick Google search, for example, you can find research associated with the benefits for cancer prevention and treatment, genetic diseases such as hemochromatosis, heart disease, obesity, Parkinson's disease, therapeutic effects on menopausal symptoms in women, among others.

Yerba Mate x Health: next steps

For the use of yerba mate to be further consolidated as something beneficial for human health, according to Cristiane, it is necessary to start isolating the compounds and identifying what each one specifically has a positive influence on.

When yerba mate is consumed as a drink, food, capsules or the plant extract itself, it is known that all of its compounds are ingested. As a result, it is not yet known exactly what they are used for and how each of them acts in isolation.

"Given everything found in yerba mate, we already understand that these capsules aren't just stimulants. They have many other benefits. They could even be considered a food supplement. But to really be able to offer this, we would have to isolate the molecules and try to compose products in a more purified way, let's say, and understand how each one acts in isolation and what influences it. In my opinion, this isn't difficult and isn't far off," commented Cristiane.

With this, it would be possible to make the production of drugs and herbal medicines more accessible and effective, for example, further highlighting the benefits of yerba mate for human health.

Yerba mate is also beneficial for animals

Cristiane's next research project is to use yerba mate in animal diets. The food will be used for fish, poultry and pigs.

"Nowadays there is a lack of ingredients with nutrients that are beneficial to their health. There are already reports in the literature indicating that it improves the autoimmune system,

as it has an anti-inflammatory effect. This could reduce the need for antibiotics, a benefit for the animals and for us humans who consume the meat," said the researcher.

The researcher also comments that Japan, for example, already requires yerba mate to be an ingredient in poultry feed because it improves the taste and texture of the meat. For cattle and other large animals, yerba mate is not yet indicated due to its stimulating effect.

For pets, yerba mate food is also beneficial. "The saponins present in yerba mate help reduce bad cholesterol, fight obesity and even reduce the smell of feces," said Cristiane.

Buy Triunfo do Brasil’s Yerba Mate!

If you're thinking of adding yerba mate to your product, check out what Triunfo do Brasil has to offer. We work with dry or liquid extract and yerba mate leaves of different types and sizes.

Triunfo has organics certifications and several seals that guarantee the quality and sustainability of its production. Visit our website and find out more!

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