Yerba Maté: South America's Energy Secret

And validated by Science!

Traditionally consumed in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is much more than a social drink. Today, science is revealing its unique potential: to support energy, improve insulin sensitivity, and stimulate cellular mechanisms linked to longevity.

Yerba mate is an infusion that combines three families of powerful molecules:

• Xanthines: provide energy and concentration but in a more stable way than coffee.
• Polyphenols (chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid): protection against oxidative stress [3].
• Saponins → anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects.

👉 This unique synergy explains why mate has a more global impact on metabolism than the simple sum of its compounds [2].

Clinical and animal research confirms that mate directly influences how the body manages its energy fuels:

• Fat oxidation during exercise : In 14 active men, a concentrated infusion of 1 g/kg (≈70 g per 70 kg) increased fat burning during 60 minutes of exercise [1]. ⚠️ This dose is much higher than traditional consumption (5–10 g/cup). In everyday life, the benefits come from regular consumption at realistic doses.
• Improved insulin sensitivity : In 40 overweight adults, 3 g/day of mate extract for 12 weeks reduced fasting blood glucose and improved lipid profile [4].
• Thermogenic effect : a study on 30 volunteers showed that 1 g of mate extract, taken in addition to other plants, increased energy expenditure [6].

Your metabolism is the set of reactions that transform food into energy. Optimizing this process isn't just about burning more calories, but also about making better use of available fuel :

• use sugar efficiently thanks to good insulin sensitivity,
• mobilize fats when glucose is low,
• maintain stable energy without peaks or drops,
• reduce cellular waste (free radicals) by improving mitochondrial efficiency.

In short, it's about turning what you eat into sustainable energy, rather than storing it as fat.

The effects reach all the way to our cells! At the microscopic level, mate acts on mitochondria, the “power plants” of cells:

• In animals : with 1% of mate in the ration of obese mice (12 weeks), increased mitochondrial biogenesis and more thermogenesis are observed [2].
• In humans : A recent study (2023) shows that mate supplementation improves mitochondrial efficiency and redox balance in various tissues [5].

These results suggest that mate helps slow down certain age-related metabolic disorders.

Yerba mate contains bitter compounds, such as saponins and certain polyphenols, which activate bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) present not only on the tongue, but also in the intestine and adipose tissue.

In a recent clinical trial, consumption of a concentrated mate infusion was associated with an increase in GLP-1 , a key hormone that promotes satiety and improves glycemic control [7].

Other research, conducted with bitter molecules such as quinine, shows that activation of T2R receptors in the intestine leads to:

This hormonal action is partly explained by the activation of intestinal bitter receptors, but also by the microbiota , which transforms certain polyphenols in mate — such as ferulic acid — into bioactive molecules capable of intensifying these effects [7].

👉 Result: yerba mate helps reduce appetite and prolong satiety , beyond its energizing effects.

Compared to coffee, mate offers a gentler and more lasting stimulation , without anxiety spikes or rebound fatigue. Unlike green tea, which is more soothing thanks to EGCG, mate positions itself as a perfect balance : stable energy, mental clarity and deep metabolic action .

Yerba mate isn't just a tradition: it's a natural biohack validated by science . Its bioactive compounds improve glucose management, stimulate fat burning, support mitochondria, and strengthen satiety hormones. A simple infusion that becomes a daily ally for energy, metabolism, and longevity.

📚 References

• Alkhatib A, et al. Yerba Maté ingestion and fat utilisation during exercise . Proc Nutr Soc. 2015. (14 men, infusion 1 g/kg).
• Zapata FJ, et al. Yerba Mate stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and thermogenesis . Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018. (Mice, 12 weeks, high-fat diet).
• van Dijk AE, et al. Chlorogenic acid effects on glucose tolerance . Diabetes Care. 2009. (11 adults, acute trial).
• Kim J, et al. Anti-obesity effects of Yerba Mate: clinical trial . 2015. (40 overweight adults, 3 g/day, 12 weeks).
• Walton CM, et al. Yerba Maté improves mitochondrial efficiency and redox status . Nutrients. 2023. (Animal study, adult mice).
• Martinet A, et al. Thermogenic effects of plant preparations in obesity . Phytomedicine. 1999. (30 volunteers, 1 g combined extract).
• Cooper-Leavitt ET, et al. The incretin effect of yerba maté depends on gut metabolism of ferulic acid . Nutrients. 2025. (Mechanistic study, humans + microbiota models).