Chapter 5
Safety and Health Effects Ascribed
to Yerba Mate Consumption
Abstract The connection between health and safety on the one hand and Ilex
paraguariensis on the other side is basically dependent on the physical form of
yerba mate products. Yerba mate beverages—obtained as infusions from dried and
roasted or unroasted leaves—have been historically reported to have anti-oxidant
power and different medical applications, also as ingredients for some folk medicine.
All reported studies and also traditional histories concerning the ‘miraculous’ effects
of yerba mate consumption on human health should be correlated with the peculiar
mode of consumption: the ‘infusion and consumption’ cycle into matero containers.
The regular assumption of yerba mate infusions in notable amounts, also depending
on the hot or cold nature of infusion, can explain partially similar properties. Consequently, chimarrão, tererê, and mate teas have been studied with relation to new
possible nutraceutical and functional foods/ingredients. With relation to safety and
health features of yerba mate infusions, some of the most known key factors are
briefly explained in this chapter.
Keywords Anti-inflammatory disease · Anti-oxidant power · Cancer ·
Cardiovascular disease · Lipid peroxidation · Oxidative stress · Yerba mate
5.1 Connections Between Chemical Profiles and Health
Properties
The first part of this book has extensively discussed different matters, including
Yerba mate health properties. Actually, the connection between health and safety
on the one hand, and I. paraguariensis on the other side, is basically dependent
on the physical form of yerba mate products. In fact, I. paraguariensis leaves are
not consumed themselves; also, fruits and roots have no interests at present when
speaking of potential foods or beverages with broad applications. On the other hand,
yerba mate beverages—obtained as infusions from dried and roasted or unroasted
leaves—have been historically reported to have anti-oxidant power and different
medical applications, also as ingredients for some folk medicine.
It has been mentioned that bioactive compounds commonly found in yerba mate—
polyphenols, saponins, xanthines, trace elements, and also vitamins—seem to be
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_5
57
Safety and Health Effects Ascribed
to Yerba Mate Consumption
Abstract The connection between health and safety on the one hand and Ilex
paraguariensis on the other side is basically dependent on the physical form of
yerba mate products. Yerba mate beverages—obtained as infusions from dried and
roasted or unroasted leaves—have been historically reported to have anti-oxidant
power and different medical applications, also as ingredients for some folk medicine.
All reported studies and also traditional histories concerning the ‘miraculous’ effects
of yerba mate consumption on human health should be correlated with the peculiar
mode of consumption: the ‘infusion and consumption’ cycle into matero containers.
The regular assumption of yerba mate infusions in notable amounts, also depending
on the hot or cold nature of infusion, can explain partially similar properties. Consequently, chimarrão, tererê, and mate teas have been studied with relation to new
possible nutraceutical and functional foods/ingredients. With relation to safety and
health features of yerba mate infusions, some of the most known key factors are
briefly explained in this chapter.
Keywords Anti-inflammatory disease · Anti-oxidant power · Cancer ·
Cardiovascular disease · Lipid peroxidation · Oxidative stress · Yerba mate
5.1 Connections Between Chemical Profiles and Health
Properties
The first part of this book has extensively discussed different matters, including
Yerba mate health properties. Actually, the connection between health and safety
on the one hand, and I. paraguariensis on the other side, is basically dependent
on the physical form of yerba mate products. In fact, I. paraguariensis leaves are
not consumed themselves; also, fruits and roots have no interests at present when
speaking of potential foods or beverages with broad applications. On the other hand,
yerba mate beverages—obtained as infusions from dried and roasted or unroasted
leaves—have been historically reported to have anti-oxidant power and different
medical applications, also as ingredients for some folk medicine.
It has been mentioned that bioactive compounds commonly found in yerba mate—
polyphenols, saponins, xanthines, trace elements, and also vitamins—seem to be
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Iommi, Chemistry and Safety of South American Yerba Mate Teas,
Chemistry of Foods, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69614-6_5
57