What are the benefits of yerba mate tea?

Yerba mate contains a mix of caffeine and chemicals that stimulate areas of the body including the brain, heart, muscles and blood vessels. It is typically used as a stimulant, though it is also employed as a remedy for other ailments.

Yerba mate comes from the mat� plant, popular in Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Mat� contains xanthines, a class of compounds that includes caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, which can also be found in black tea and chocolate. These chemicals are stimulants.

Preliminary research shows that yerba mate might be a useful treatment for diabetes, high blood fat levels, weight loss (when combined with guarana and damiana), osteoporosis and colon cancer.