Yerba mate snd sport. Is it a good idea to drink it before training?

More than once in the pages of our blog we've proven what a wonderful beverage yerba mate truly is. Not only does it stimulate, but it also positively impacts the functioning of the entire body. Enhanced performance and increased efficiency of the body are crucial elements during exercising or professional sports practice. How does yerba mate affect the body in the context of physical activity, and is drinking the infusion before training a recipe for success? That’s precisely what we will be discussing today!

Summary:

1. How does yerba mate work?
2. Yerba mate before training – stimulation and motivation
3. Or maybe it's better to drink yerba mate after training?
4. Yerba mate, sport, and a slender figure
5. What type of yerba mate to drink when practising sport?
6. Yerba mate – source of motivation and power!

How does yerba mate work?

Yerba mate is an infusion made from the dried and ground leaves of Ilex paraguariensis. It originates from South America, where it has been consumed for centuries. In recent years, yerba mate has been gaining increasing popularity worldwide, particularly among those leading a healthy lifestyle and actively engaging in physical activities. We’ve written many times on our blog about the properties of yerba mate. Above all, the infusion is rich in caffeine, making it an excellent alternative to coffee. Furthermore, yerba mate contains numerous essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other active substances that significantly contribute to the functioning of the human body. Several of its properties can be particularly beneficial for athletes. The key advantages include:

• Stimulation. Yerba mate contains caffeine, a natural stimulant. Caffeine enhances concentration, increases alertness, and motivates for action.
• Recovery of the body. During intense workouts, the body loses accumulated water, and essential vitamins and minerals. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, yerba mate helps replenish these deficiencies, ensuring the body recovers better and faster after strenuous exertion.
• Metabolism support. Yerba mate boosts digestion and accelerates metabolism. It contains catechins, which have thermogenic properties – helping to increase body temperature, thereby promoting more efficient calorie burning.

Yerba mate before training – stimulation and motivation

Morning jogging right after waking up, or perhaps exhausting weightlifting sessions at the gym late in the evening after a full day at work? Regardless of when you exercise, you need energy, strength, and motivation. Coffee remains the most popular choice among stimulating beverages. Many also opt for sugary, colourful energy drinks before and during their workouts. But what if you replaced them with healthy and entirely natural yerba mate? A serving of yerba mate contains slightly less caffeine than coffee, but its effects are different. The feeling of stimulation lasts much longer and wears off gradually, without sudden energy spikes or unpleasant crashes, which are often noticeable after drinking coffee. Compared to energy drinks, yerba mate fares even better. It contains no sugar or artificial substances, of which energy drinks have far too many. Yerba mate is simply dried Ilex paraguariensis leaves and water – pure nature! It’s a fantastic, 100% natural pre-workout drink that boosts energy, reduces fatigue, and puts you in a positive mood for physical activity. A 2018 study even suggests that regularly drinking yerba mate before training may improve results for professional athletes. Norwegian researchers conducted an experiment involving 11 professional cyclists. After just 5 days of regularly consuming the infusion, the cyclists managed to improve their times by a few minutes. It may seem like a small improvement, but it sparks high hopes and shows that yerba mate is worth considering in sports!

Or maybe it's better to drink yerba mate after training?

In addition to caffeine, yerba mate boasts a plethora of valuable substances: vitamins (from groups A, B, C and E), minerals (including zinc, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, silicon, and magnesium), as well as antioxidants. It’s not just an energy bomb but also a treasure trove of nutrients that support the body during and after training. Intense physical activity depletes the body’s reserves of water, vitamins, and minerals. If you exercise regularly, you’re probably used to drinking isotonic beverages post-training to replenish these deficits. Ready-made isotonic drinks, aside from valuable substances, are often loaded with sugar and artificial colourants. Yerba mate, with all its rich composition and being a completely natural infusion, seems to be an excellent alternative to isotonic drinks!

Yerba mate, sport, and a slender figure

Engaging in physical activity isn’t always only about results. Many people exercise to improve their appearance – shedding a few extra pounds and maintaining a beautiful, slender figure. As it turns out, yerba mate is an excellent ally in the fight to maintain a healthy weight. As mentioned earlier, the substances in yerba mate infusion support metabolism, contributing to better fat burning and, consequently, unnecessary calorie expenditure. Yerba mate also has the advantage of reducing hunger feelings. After drinking a serving of the infusion, you feel satiated, so there’s less temptation to snack. The less we snack between meals, the easier it is to control weight and calorie intake. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that yerba mate isn’t a miraculous weight-loss solution – consuming it will yield results only in combination with a proper diet and regular exercise.

What type of yerba mate to drink when practising sport?

Have we convinced you that combining yerba mate with physical activity is a good idea, but you're wondering which product to choose to maximise your results? A great choice is functional yerba mate blends with herbal additives, specially crafted for people who are physically active and care about maintaining their fitness. Examples include the Brazilian Verde Mate Green Fitness, which contains cistus, mint, mulberry leaf, and lemongrass, as well as the more intense Yaguar Silueta, featuring cistus and mint alongside green gunpowder tea and lapacho. If you’re looking for a strong boost before training, you might also try blends with guarana, which adds an extra caffeine kick to mate tea. Options include the bestseller Verde Mate Green Energía Guaraná or the Paraguayan, extra-strong Guarani Caffeine+. Regardless of which yerba mate you choose, the delicious, 100% natural infusion packed with valuable ingredients will set you up for action and give you the energy you need during training!

Yerba mate – source of motivation and power!

Lacking energy and motivation to exercise? Or are you looking to train even better and more effectively? Grab your mate cup, brew your favourite yerba mate, sip the infusion through a bombilla, and feel how the energy from this magical plant flows through your body. Even famous athletes have discovered the mighty power of yerba! You can often spot global football stars like Messi, Neymar, and even Robert Lewandowski with a mate cup in hand. This only confirms that there really is something to yerba mate! Join the ranks of those who’ve uncovered the secret of strength, endurance, and good health from the Guarani Indians. Remember – yerba mate isn’t just a delicious drink; it’s pure energy and a healthy lifestyle!

Sources of information:

1. Wikipedia: Maté.
2. D. H. Markowicz Bastos et al., Yerba Maté: Pharmacological Properties, Research and Biotechnology, Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Science and Biotechnology, 2007.
3. A. Gawron-Gzella, J. Chanaj-Kaczmarek, J. Cielecka-Piontek, Yerba Mate - A Long but Current History, Nutrients, 2021.
4. J. L. Areta, I. Austarheim, H. Wangensteen, C. Capelli, Metabolic and Performance Effects of Yerba Mate on Well-trained Cyclists, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2018.
5. V. P. Panza, F. Diefenthaele, A. C. Tamborindeguy, Effects of mate tea consumption on muscle strength and oxidative stress markers after eccentric exercise, British Journal of Nutrition, 2016.