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5 Safety and Health Effects Ascribed to Yerba Mate Consumption
associated with positive features against several human diseases (Filip et al. 2010;
Frizon et al. 2018; Heck and De Mejia 2007; Martins et al. 2009). In general, yerba
mate may have some importance when speaking of human nutrition and supplementation against nutritional deficiencies. Naturally, all reported studies and also
traditional histories concerning the ‘miraculous’ effects of yerba mate consumption
on human health (with associated commercial claims) should be correlated with the
peculiar mode of consumption (the ‘infusion and consumption’ cycle into matero
containers). In fact, certain claimed properties should be critically examined and
compared with real yerba mate features, including:
(a) Regulation of the digestive apparatus
(b) Skin protection
(c) ‘Rejuvenating’ power
(d) Weight loss
(e) Enhanced energy intake
(f) Font of non-allergic caffeine (actually, the supplementation of ‘mateine’ is not
different from caffeine: it is the same molecule!).
Certainly, the claimed presence of non-allergic mateine has to be highlighted…
and the same thing when speaking of ‘rejuvenating tea’…
The regular assumption of yerba mate infusions in notable amounts (500 ml at
least per day), also depending on the hot or cold nature of infusion, can explain
partially properties such as (Baeza et al. 2017; Cahuê et al. 2019; Cittadini et al.
2019a, b; Croge et al. 2020; Habtemariam 2019; Luís et al. 2019; Panza et al. 2018;
Tate et al. 2020):
(1) General anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory features with associated hepatoprotection and neuroprotection. Anti-oxidant power would be also… the cause
of ‘rejuvenation’, with reference to skin protection
(2) Hypoglycaemic power: glucose reduction and enhancement of sensitivity to
insulin
(3) Protective effects against hypertension, high cholesterol amounts in blood,
cardiovascular diseases, oxidative stress in livers and hearth, post-ischaemic
reperfusion and tissutal damages after heart attack, stroke and myocardial
ischaemia, atherosclerosis, and cellular death
(4) Protection against lipid peroxidation
(5) Preventive effects against damages to the genetic human code
(6) Synergic action with other therapies against cancer diseases
(7) Regulation of the digestive apparatus
(8) Anti-obesity power
(9) Defence against oxidative stress (e.g. protection against retinal degeneration)
(10) Vasodilatator effects and other features related to the action of certain
xanthines such as caffeine/matenine…
As a normal consequence, yerba mate has been and is still studied with relation to new possible nutraceutical and functional foods/ingredients. In particular, the
5 Safety and Health Effects Ascribed to Yerba Mate Consumption
associated with positive features against several human diseases (Filip et al. 2010;
Frizon et al. 2018; Heck and De Mejia 2007; Martins et al. 2009). In general, yerba
mate may have some importance when speaking of human nutrition and supplementation against nutritional deficiencies. Naturally, all reported studies and also
traditional histories concerning the ‘miraculous’ effects of yerba mate consumption
on human health (with associated commercial claims) should be correlated with the
peculiar mode of consumption (the ‘infusion and consumption’ cycle into matero
containers). In fact, certain claimed properties should be critically examined and
compared with real yerba mate features, including:
(a) Regulation of the digestive apparatus
(b) Skin protection
(c) ‘Rejuvenating’ power
(d) Weight loss
(e) Enhanced energy intake
(f) Font of non-allergic caffeine (actually, the supplementation of ‘mateine’ is not
different from caffeine: it is the same molecule!).
Certainly, the claimed presence of non-allergic mateine has to be highlighted…
and the same thing when speaking of ‘rejuvenating tea’…
The regular assumption of yerba mate infusions in notable amounts (500 ml at
least per day), also depending on the hot or cold nature of infusion, can explain
partially properties such as (Baeza et al. 2017; Cahuê et al. 2019; Cittadini et al.
2019a, b; Croge et al. 2020; Habtemariam 2019; Luís et al. 2019; Panza et al. 2018;
Tate et al. 2020):
(1) General anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory features with associated hepatoprotection and neuroprotection. Anti-oxidant power would be also… the cause
of ‘rejuvenation’, with reference to skin protection
(2) Hypoglycaemic power: glucose reduction and enhancement of sensitivity to
insulin
(3) Protective effects against hypertension, high cholesterol amounts in blood,
cardiovascular diseases, oxidative stress in livers and hearth, post-ischaemic
reperfusion and tissutal damages after heart attack, stroke and myocardial
ischaemia, atherosclerosis, and cellular death
(4) Protection against lipid peroxidation
(5) Preventive effects against damages to the genetic human code
(6) Synergic action with other therapies against cancer diseases
(7) Regulation of the digestive apparatus
(8) Anti-obesity power
(9) Defence against oxidative stress (e.g. protection against retinal degeneration)
(10) Vasodilatator effects and other features related to the action of certain
xanthines such as caffeine/matenine…
As a normal consequence, yerba mate has been and is still studied with relation to new possible nutraceutical and functional foods/ingredients. In particular, the