- Joel Muñoz
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Drink yerba mate for a healthy weight
Yerba mate is a natural ally for weight loss thanks to its ability to speed up metabolism and promote fat burning. Its mateine content helps control appetite, reducing calorie intake. It also acts as a diuretic, promoting fluid elimination. Incorporating yerba mate into your diet, along with a balanced diet, can be an excellent way to achieve your weight goals in a healthy way.
Yerba mate has excellent nutritional properties and benefits for the human body, which is why its consumption is gaining more and more followers among those seeking a healthy lifestyle. Among its many benefits, which include a very high amount of antioxidants and help prevent diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease, its properties also favorably influence achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
In fact, a study conducted on obese people showed that those who consumed just 3 grams of yerba mate per day lost an average of 0.7 kg of body weight and 2% of abdominal fat over a 12-week period; a statistically significant difference compared to the placebo group.
How does yerba mate help you achieve a healthy weight?
Although yerba mate is not a weight-loss product per se, nor should it be considered a meal replacement, including yerba mate in your daily diet can help speed up your metabolism and promote the health and proper functioning of your entire body, making it an effective dietary supplement for combating potential excess weight and the health problems it can cause.
These are just a few ways yerba mate can help maintain a healthy weight:
Yerba mate is very low in calories and has zero fat, so it can be part of the routine of anyone trying to control their weight.
Beyond being fat-free, yerba mate has been shown to directly contribute to fat burning and optimal utilization of cholesterol and lipid reserves thanks to its saponins. Furthermore, the caffeine in mate accelerates metabolism, increases energy expenditure, and therefore, calorie burning.
Yerba mate promotes the elimination of toxins in several ways: first, it prevents fluid retention thanks to its low sodium content. More importantly, it has completely natural diuretic and cleansing properties that improve kidney development and stimulate urine elimination (it's recommended to stay hydrated with a minimum of 2 liters of water per day). Furthermore, yerba mate is digestive and promotes bowel movement.
Mate produces a very interesting energizing effect during sports and exercise routines, which are often part of a weight-loss regimen. It also reduces the fatigue generated by physical activity, allowing you to train and exercise for longer.
The feeling of satiety is perhaps one of the most direct effects of yerba mate on weight loss. It makes you feel fuller for longer and reduces your overall appetite.
Mate can also have a calming and relaxing effect. Regular consumption helps eliminate hunger caused by stress or anxiety, which often causes people to eat more than they need.
Many more benefits of drinking mate
In general, mate is an excellent nutritional supplement due to its high content of essential minerals and vitamins, which improve the immune system in general, detoxify the body, and prevent many diseases.
Yerba mate is also a powerful antioxidant. In addition to restoring the body's cellular balance, the polyphenols contained in yerba mate are able to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals, which accelerate cellular deterioration and the aging process, as well as the development of chronic diseases. In fact, the benefits of mate consumption have been repeatedly proven, demonstrating its effectiveness in controlling certain diseases such as Type II Diabetes Mellitus, as it improves blood sugar and fat control. Thanks to its neuroprotective properties, it also prevents Parkinson's disease, among other diseases such as arteriosclerosis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, and colon cancer.
In addition to being an excellent natural stimulant, it also has a secondary relaxing effect, without affecting the quality of sleep and rest when consumed in moderation. In fact, it is considered a completely natural antidepressant as it promotes moments of well-being, especially when shared with friends and loved ones.
To take into account
It's important to remember that although mate can curb appetite, it shouldn't be considered a substitute for meals. We recommend pairing it with a hearty breakfast or a tasty snack. It's also not considered a substitute for the recommended daily fluid intake, which should be achieved with a minimum of 2 liters of water per day.
The health benefits of yerba mate are indisputable, and regular consumption is highly recommended. However, it should be viewed as a complement to a healthy lifestyle, with a nutritious diet and a regular physical routine. And of course, we recommend consulting a doctor if you have any questions.
How to lose weight in a healthy way?
Rather than prescribing a strict short- or medium-term diet for weight loss, health professionals across all branches are focusing more on designing and creating a healthy lifestyle that can be maintained long-term, and this is precisely where yerba mate consumption is best integrated. Here are some tips:
Follow a varied menu that includes foods from all groups
Increase consumption of foods rich in fiber
Prioritize fruits and vegetables
Moderate consumption of salt and refined sugar
Stay well hydrated (at least two liters of water per day in addition to mate tea).
Doing sports, exercises or some physical activity regularly
Include activities that promote social relationships and enthusiasm for personal and professional achievements; such as studying, working, and spending time with friends. All of these activities are ideal for combining with a good mate!