- Joel Muñoz
- Apr 8
- 6 min read
Yerba mate vs. commercial energy drinks
Unlike commercial energy drinks, Taragüi yerba mate is a 100% natural source of energy, without side effects such as jitters or insomnia. It provides sustained energy thanks to natural caffeine and antioxidants, improving concentration without causing sugar spikes. Ideal for those looking for a healthier and more balanced option to stay active.
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Energy drinks can cause side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, and rapid heart rate. Mate, on the other hand, is a 100% natural beverage whose energizing effect and multiple benefits come from nature itself.
Yerba mate infusion is considered one of the best beverages in the world for its many benefits, including its powerful energizing effect, which, thanks to its method of consumption, surpasses the effects of caffeine in coffee and tea. In addition, its energy boost helps clear the mind and give you the stamina to cope with any activity, including high-impact sports.
However, there are several energy drinks and hypertonic drinks (hypertonic drinks have a higher concentration of sugar and salt than the human body) on the market from different brands, widely consumed around the world to combat fatigue and exhaustion. There are also so-called sports drinks, which offer to replace the minerals or electrolytes lost during exercise through sweat and urine. But what differences do these have with yerba mate when it comes to providing energy?
What are energy drinks?
Energy drinks emerged in Europe and Asia around 1960. An energy drink is a beverage containing a strong stimulant, usually caffeine and sugar. These drinks are known to increase energy and improve physical performance. Energy drinks are different from sports drinks, which are used to replenish water and electrolytes, and from sodas, which contain little or no caffeine.
In addition to caffeine and sugar, energy drinks may contain additives such as vitamins, taurine, carnitine, or other amino acids, as well as other ingredients such as ginseng and guarana, which are other sources of caffeine. So-called "energy shots" are a type of energy drink that contain up to 200 mg of concentrated caffeine in a small container.
The main reason people choose energy drinks is to exercise and improve mental alertness and physical performance. They have become very popular in the last decade, especially among young people: along with multivitamins, energy drinks are the most consumed dietary supplement by teens and young adults in the United States (almost a third of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 drink them regularly, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health).
Health problems associated with commercial energy drinks:
Energy drinks typically contain five times more caffeine than soft drinks. This amount of caffeine can cause nervousness, anxiety, headaches, stomach aches, hyperactivity, insomnia, dehydration, rapid heart rate, and, in extreme cases, seizures and strokes.
Most energy drinks contain more sugar than the recommended daily amount and potentially contribute to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity in sedentary people.
Energy drinks are often combined with alcohol. The combination of energy drinks and alcohol is more dangerous than alcohol alone and could impair cognitive function.
Yerba mate is considered an energizing drink.
Yerba mate is a natural beverage that provides an energizing effect; but it's far from a commercial energy drink. This ancient beverage is made from the leaves of the yerba mate tree. It contains caffeine and other substances that act on the central nervous system; this energizing effect comes from nature itself, not from artificial manufacture. Yerba mate is also a great alternative to coffee and tea.
What is yerba mate made of?
Yerba mate is prepared at home by adding hot water to the dried leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis tree, which grows only in South America. It contains no fat or sugar and is very low in calories, carbohydrates, and sodium. Furthermore, yerba mate is a wonderful source of vitamins (especially B vitamins), minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron), and antioxidants (polyphenols, saponins). Yerba mate also naturally contains stimulants such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline; making it a great source of natural energy.
Can you drink yerba mate every day?
Yes, of course. It has countless health benefits when drunk regularly. Consuming mate is unlikely to cause side effects in the average adult or put their health at risk. You can always talk to your doctor if you have any concerns; but don't hesitate to learn more about the properties and benefits of yerba mate, its nutritional value, and why it could be considered a superfood.
The unique effect of yerba mate
Yerba mate infusion contains just the right amount of natural caffeine to gently increase energy levels and reduce fatigue, optimizing brain function, alertness, and concentration.
Artificially produced energy drinks contain caffeine and vitamins as their main ingredients, but they also often contain supplements to enhance the effects of caffeine, such as taurine, guarana, ginseng, or herbs with stimulant properties to increase physical endurance. These additives are not harmful on their own, but when combined with caffeine, the stimulant effect is so strong that it can cause side effects such as rapid heart rate, nervousness, nausea, and, in some cases, serious health problems such as addiction and withdrawal symptoms, hypertension, seizures, and heart problems. In fact, most of the problems associated with energy drinks are usually caused by their high caffeine content.
The effect of yerba mate is also considered very different from that of energy drinks: mate drinkers report experiencing a dual effect, both stimulating and relaxing. The energy boost produced by yerba mate is more subtle and lasts longer compared to energy drinks. This may have something to do with the fact that the caffeine in yerba mate is usually more diluted.
In fact, yerba mate has several advantages over all caffeinated beverages. For example, compared to coffee, yerba mate's energizing effect is gentler, it doesn't cause anxiety or insomnia, and it's much more nutritious. Furthermore, due to the way it's consumed, it has 90% more antioxidants than green tea.
The added value of yerba mate
Drinking yerba mate has many benefits for physical and mental health. Some say no other beverage offers as many benefits. Yerba mate can help boost immune system function, preventing some diseases and cellular aging. It's also a source of vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Although energy drinks in moderate amounts are neither toxic nor endanger health, they also don't provide much added value. On the contrary, the large amount of sugar is stored as body fat, and excessive consumption of hypertonic drinks can even cause gastrointestinal problems, as the body needs to produce more and more water to dilute the high concentration of sugars and electrolytes.
Can energy drinks be replaced with yerba mate when exercising?
Energy drinks claim to be designed for prolonged physical activity, but replacing commercial energy drinks with yerba mate is entirely feasible because:
Yerba mate stimulates the central nervous system and improves concentration.
It helps the body better utilize its energy reserves and increase physical endurance.
Yerba mate can accelerate muscle recovery by up to 8.6% the day after a workout, according to a study published by Cambridge University Press.
It improves motor function and muscle recovery. In fact, the anti-inflammatory effects of yerba mate may aid in the recovery of muscle injuries, as this study demonstrates.
Yerba mate prevents cell degeneration.
Yerba mate benefits the cardiovascular system, which translates into improved physical fitness.
While energy drinks can lead to weight gain due to their sugar content, yerba mate contributes to a healthy weight by speeding up metabolism and helping the body eliminate toxins. Furthermore, yerba mate is very low in calories and contains no fat. Read our article on yerba mate and weight loss.
As an added benefit, yerba mate offers a very special advantage: a positive effect on emotional health. Its gentle burst of energy can be a natural way to lift your spirits; and the tradition of sharing a mate with loved ones undoubtedly fosters moments of well-being.
How to drink yerba mate to increase energy:
Take it before any activity, from studying to high-impact sports, to boost energy levels and concentration. Plus, its antioxidant properties, stress-reducing properties, and cardiovascular health benefits lead to improved physical fitness and improved performance.
Drink it during a workout: to help your body process carbohydrates efficiently, increase endurance, and train longer. Yerba mate also prevents the buildup of lactic acid in the body.
Taking it after training: Recovery rate increases by 8.6% up to 24 hours after training, according to this study.
Champions prefer yerba mate
For all the aforementioned benefits, yerba mate is highly valued by renowned athletes around the world, including world-class South American soccer players such as Argentina's Leo Messi, Uruguay's Luis Suárez, and Brazil's Neymar Jr.
But it goes beyond the borders of South America: Antoine Griezmann (French soccer player) drinks yerba mate every day and confesses that he drinks it like a normal person would drink tea or coffee because it gives him the energy he needs on the field. Wu Lei, a Chinese soccer player, posted a photo on social media sharing yerba mate with a teammate. Alice Beretta, an Italian hockey player, is a fan of yerba mate and says she couldn't live without it: "It's my strength," she said.
Yerba mate is considered one of the best and healthiest beverages in the world, improving overall quality of life without any unwanted side effects. If you're ready to start exploring the world of yerba mate, you can begin by choosing a high-quality yerba and following our step-by-step guide to preparing this ancient beverage at home.