Yerba mate, a traditional South American drink, has gained worldwide popularity as a herbal tea made from the leaves and stems of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It's often touted as having the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the joy of chocolate. Unicity Unimate is a dietary supplement based on yerba mate, marketed for its potential weight management benefits. This article explores the potential weight loss benefits of yerba mate and Unimate, examining the science behind the claims and considering potential risks.
What is Yerba Mate?
Yerba mate is prepared by drying the leaves over a fire and then steeping them in hot water. Traditionally, it's consumed from a gourd-shaped container (calabash) and sipped with a metal straw (bombilla) that filters out leaf fragments. It contains antioxidants, caffeine, and other nutrients.
Key Compounds in Yerba Mate
Yerba mate boasts a rich profile of plant compounds that contribute to its potential health benefits:
- Xanthines: These stimulants, including caffeine and theobromine (also found in tea, coffee, and chocolate), provide an energy boost.
- Caffeoyl derivatives: These are the primary antioxidants in yerba mate, known for their health-promoting properties. Chlorogenic acid, a type of polyphenol, is particularly abundant and plays a role in lipid and glucose metabolism, potentially improving insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels, promoting weight loss, and lowering cholesterol levels.
- Saponins: These bitter compounds possess anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects.
- Polyphenols: This large group of antioxidants is linked to a reduced risk of many diseases.
Yerba mate also contains small amounts of vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B6, though these are unlikely to significantly contribute to overall dietary needs.
Unimate: A Concentrated Yerba Mate Supplement
Unimate is a dietary supplement manufactured by Unicity, a multi-level marketing company. It consists of an individually packaged powder mix of green mate leaf extract powder, designed to be mixed with water. Unicity claims that Unimate's unique processing method results in a more concentrated form of yerba mate, containing approximately ten times the amount of chlorogenic acid found in a typical cup of coffee. It is often recommended to be combined with another Unicity product called Balance and an intermittent fasting (16 hour fast) eating pattern.
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Unimate Ingredients and Their Potential Benefits
The primary ingredient in Unimate is green mate leaf extract powder, which is essentially yerba mate. This means Unimate shares the same potential benefits as yerba mate, potentially in a more concentrated form.
- Chlorogenic Acid: As mentioned earlier, chlorogenic acid may improve insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels, promote weight loss, and lower cholesterol levels.
- Theobromine: This compound can increase physical energy levels, mood, mental alertness, and focus.
- Mate Saponins: These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and combat oxidative stress, protecting cells from free radicals.
- Caffeine: Caffeine can improve mental alertness and focus, while creating a burst of energy. Unimate contains anywhere from 80 to 120 mg of caffeine per serving.
Yerba Mate and Weight Management: What the Research Says
Some research suggests that yerba mate may support weight management and could be effective in reducing body weight, belly fat, and body mass index. It seems to decrease the total number of fat cells and reduce the amount of fat they hold.
Potential Mechanisms for Weight Loss
- Increased Energy Expenditure: Yerba mate's caffeine content can boost energy levels and improve physical performance, potentially leading to increased calorie burning.
- Appetite Suppression: Some studies suggest that yerba mate may have appetite-suppressing effects.
- Improved Fat Metabolism: Chlorogenic acid in yerba mate may play a role in lipid metabolism, potentially promoting fat loss.
Other Potential Health Benefits of Yerba Mate
Beyond weight management, yerba mate has been linked to several other potential health benefits:
- Increased Energy Levels and Mental Focus: The caffeine in yerba mate can enhance alertness and focus. People who regularly consume yerba mate often report that it enhances alertness like coffee but without the jittery side effects.
- Improved Physical Performance: Caffeine can improve muscle contractions, reduce fatigue, and improve sports performance.
- Antimicrobial Properties: A 2023 study found that yerba mate had antimicrobial properties that could help protect against strains of bacteria such as E. coli.
- Lower Blood Sugar Levels: Yerba mate may help lower blood sugar and reduce complications associated with diabetes. Research suggests that it may help reduce serum lipids (fat found in the blood).
- Reduced Risk of Heart Disease: Yerba mate contains antioxidant compounds, such as caffeoyl derivatives and polyphenols, which may protect against heart disease. A 2019 study of 119 females with overweight found that daily consumption of yerba mate led to reductions total and LDL (bad) cholesterol over a 12-week period. Yerba mate also significantly reduced levels of triglycerides when paired with a low calorie diet.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
While yerba mate is generally considered safe for healthy adults who drink it occasionally, regular consumption may pose some risks:
- Cancer Risk: Some studies suggest that drinking large amounts of yerba mate for a long time may increase the risk of upper respiratory and digestive tract cancers. This seems to be more true when someone is consuming hot yerba mate drinks (as opposed to warm or cold) or using the same yerba mate leaves over and over again.
- Caffeine-Related Side Effects: The caffeine in yerba mate can cause headaches, migraines, and high blood pressure in some individuals. Unimate contains anywhere from 80 to 120 mg of caffeine per serving
- Medication Interactions: Yerba mate may interact with certain medications, such as the muscle relaxant Zanaflex or the antidepressant Luvox, birth control pills and antidiabetes medications like Metformin. It may also interact with alcohol consumption.
Preparing and Consuming Yerba Mate
Traditionally, yerba mate is prepared in a calabash gourd and sipped through a bombilla. To prepare mate, fill the bottom third of the calabash with dried or toasted mate leaves prior to adding hot water. If you do not own a calabash, you can prepare it in a French press. The tea is often served with burnt sugar, lemon juice, or milk and can be topped off with hot water several times before using new leaves to make a new batch. Although traditionally consumed hot, yerba mate may also be served cold, especially in hot climates.
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Unimate is prepared by simply mixing the powder with water.
Unimate: Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Convenient: Unimate is easy to mix and comes in single-serving packets.
- Potentially More Potent: Unicity claims their unique process creates a more concentrated form of yerba mate.
- Third Party Tested.
Cons:
- Cost: Unimate is significantly more expensive than traditional yerba mate.
- Potency Unknown:
- Multi-Level Marketing: Unicity is a direct-sales company that uses multi-level marketing to promote their products.
- Caffeine Content: Because of the way Unimate is processed, it has a higher caffeine content than some traditional yerba mate drinks.
Unimate vs. Traditional Yerba Mate
While Unicity claims that Unimate is a more potent form of yerba mate, it's essential to consider whether the potential benefits justify the significantly higher cost. Traditional yerba mate drinks or teas may offer similar benefits at a fraction of the price, although they may not be as potent as Unicity Unimate.
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