Many of the world’s top sports stars swear by the South American drink Yerba Mate, which is said to contain properties that can help fight ilness and boost your mood
A tea-like drink favoured by footballing legend Lionel Messi has taken the sports world by storm in recent years.
Pronounced mah-teh, the popular drink hails from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Brazil. Football fans will be familiar with the sight of players like Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez carrying a small thermos flask with a silver straw protruding from it, whether they’re heading to training or en route to a match.
Beyond its social and ritualistic elements, the natural drink is packed with antioxidants and vitamins that are said to fight off illness. It’s also known for its energy and mood boosting properties, thanks to its 70mg caffeine content, its ability to work as an appetite suppressant and even being researched for its potential effects on prostate cancer.
The drink is made solely from the leaves of the Ilex paraguariensis plant, along with fragments of petioles and floral peduncles. Its popularity has now spread beyond South America, with European footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba all developing a taste for it.
English rugby player Marcus Smith has also spoken about his mate-drinking habit, saying: “If it works for Messi, it will do for me.” Meanwhile, Three Lions star Eric Dier once described the drink as an “addiction”.
Hungarian tennis ace Márton Fucsovics revealed his deep affection for the particular beverage, even going as far as to get a tattoo of it. “I love mate. I think my life has changed thanks to it,” Fucsovics said. The Wimbledon quarter-finalist also shared how the drink had increased his mood levels and confidence.
Pharmacist Mar Sieira said: “Mate is essentially a stimulating drink that helps reduce fatigue by stimulating mental and physical activity. Yerba mate is a rich source of antioxidants.” However, she did caution that certain elements that give yerba mate its strength, such as its high caffeine content, could pose health risks for some individuals and should be avoided by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with hypertension or cardiac arrhythmias.
Despite this, Sieira believes it can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. “In conclusion, available literature shows that yerba mate can be used within a balanced diet for the prevention and adjunct treatment of chronic diseases,” she added.
While mate is lauded for its performance-enhancing properties, it’s also being investigated for its potential ability to help prevent prostate cancer. A research team including Dr. Constanza López Fontana, Dr. Rubén Carón, Vet. Paula Ginevro, and Dr. Flavia Santiano are studying its bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acid, caffeine, rutin, and quercetin, which could offer numerous health benefits.
Studies conducted in a lab setting have revealed that yerba mate can reduce the growth and viability of prostate cancer cells. The research found that tumour cells stopped growing and even died when exposed to the properties of the beverage.
Furthermore, it was observed that the drink reduced the ability of the cells to invade and migrate. In a separate study involving living organisms, daily consumption of yerba mate was found to delay the onset of tumours and resulted in smaller tumour sizes compared to those who consumed water.
Five main benefits of Yerba Mate
- Combat illness
- Boost energy
- Suppress appetite
- Boost mood and confidence
- Helps prevent prostate cancer
