| Everyday people power up their computers in | | | | Naturopaths and others alike, we were unable to |
| search for information in regards to green tea | | | | find much written on yerba mate's antioxidant |
| versus yerba mate in their health benefits. For | | | | properties except for what we mentioned above. |
| some, the interest is to compare their possible | | | | On the other hand, the exciting information about |
| weight loss benefits, while others want to | | | | green tea's possible health benefits due to its |
| compare their overall health benefits. As such, let's | | | | antioxidant properties is endless. Put simply, there |
| begin with green tea versus yerba mate in their | | | | is not much published research on yerba mate, so |
| overall possible health benefits. | | | | the green tea versus yerba mate debate as far |
| Yerba mate actions and uses: | | | | as their possible antioxidant benefits, green tea |
| - Free radical fighter (antioxidant) | | | | won by a landslide. |
| - May potentially help with maintaining healthy | | | | However, keep in mind, like many other herbs, |
| cholesterol levels | | | | that many of the medicinal claims made for green |
| - Appetite suppressant | | | | tea haven't been examined outside a laboratory |
| - Mind stimulator | | | | setting, specifically in clinical trials that assess the |
| - Stimulates the production of cortisone | | | | tea's health effects in humans. Nevertheless, |
| - Tones the nervous system | | | | green tea's antioxidant properties may help to |
| - Fighter of aging | | | | prevent various types of cancer, ward off heart |
| - Enhances the healing powers of other herbs | | | | disease by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing |
| - Diuretic | | | | blood pressure, and fight aging. |
| Yerba mate may be useful for: | | | | With that being said, let's move on to green tea |
| - Allergies | | | | versus yerba mate in their caffeine content. |
| - Constipation | | | | Caffeine Content |
| - Inflammatory bowel disorders | | | | An average cup (6 oz.) of green tea contains |
| - PMS fluid retention | | | | approximately 50 milligrams of caffeine. For those |
| - Mental and physical fatigue | | | | of you sensitive to caffeine, green tea is available |
| - Shows promise as weight loss agent | | | | in a decaffeinated tea form and supplemental |
| Green tea actions and uses: | | | | form. In other words, the caffeine has been |
| - Free radical fighter(antioxidant) | | | | removed. |
| - Stimulates the immune system | | | | What about the yerba mate's caffeine content? |
| - Fighter of tooth decay (high in fluoride) | | | | An average cup (6 oz.) of yerba mate contains |
| - Cancer Prevention | | | | approximately 50 milligrams of caffeine. |
| - Counter aging | | | | So, how much caffeine is in a cup of brewed |
| - Ward off heart disease by lowering cholesterol | | | | coffee? On average, it is approximately 100 to |
| levels and reducing blood pressure | | | | 150 milligrams per cup. |
| - May delay the onset of atherosclerosis | | | | Weight-Loss - Green tea or Yerba mate? |
| Green tea may be useful for: | | | | Perhaps one of the greatest interests among |
| - Asthma | | | | these two is to compare green tea versus yerba |
| - Diarrhea | | | | mate in their possible weight loss benefits. Let's |
| - Mental fatigue | | | | begin with yerba mate. |
| - Indigestion | | | | First, despite claims to the contrary, yerba mate |
| - Shows promise as a weight-loss aid | | | | does contain caffeine and, as such, the primary |
| Now, let's move on to what these two may have | | | | weight-loss component of mate is caffeine. As |
| in common. They both are antioxidants, they both | | | | such, used in combination with guarana and |
| contain caffeine, and they both have been touted | | | | damiana, which are other caffeine-containing |
| as a weight-loss aid. As such, we will start with | | | | herbs, yerba mate was found in one study to |
| green tea versus yerba mate as a free radical | | | | delay gastric emptying and induced significant |
| fighter. | | | | weight loss. However, no studies have shown that |
| Antioxidant | | | | we are aware of, whether yerba mate by itself |
| Both yerba mate and green tea harbor | | | | has any affect on weight loss. For those who |
| antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are | | | | want to delve deeper into this study, it can be |
| disease-fighting substances that mop up the | | | | found at PubMed. |
| continuous onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals | | | | Indeed, green tea has gained a lot of attention for |
| are unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells | | | | its possible weight loss benefits. Swiss researchers |
| as they travel through the body and are thought | | | | have preliminary evidence that green tea |
| to be instrumental in causing cancer, aging, and | | | | accelerates the burning of fat calories in individuals |
| many degenerative diseases, including | | | | who are overweight. A small but interesting study |
| atherosclerosis and heart disease if left | | | | published in the in the American Journal of Clinical |
| unchecked. | | | | Nutrition, Vol. 70, No. 6, 1040-1045, December |
| The main contributors that have helped green | | | | 1999 found that "Green tea has thermogenic |
| tea's claim to fame are a particular group of | | | | properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond |
| potent antioxidants called polyphenols, particularly | | | | that explained by its caffeine content per se. The |
| one of the polyphenols called epigallocatechin | | | | green tea extract may play a role in the control |
| gallate (EGCG). In fact, researchers found EGCG | | | | of body composition via sympathetic activation of |
| to be 200 times more powerful than the well | | | | thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both." |
| renowned antioxidant vitamin E in neutralizing free | | | | So, what's the bottom line on green tea versus |
| radicals. | | | | yerba mate in their possible weight loss benefits? |
| However, yerba mate is said to contain | | | | Both green tea and yerba mate requires more |
| polyphenols similar to those of green tea, | | | | well-designed and controlled clinical studies to |
| compounds that may prevent the oxidation of | | | | validate their effectiveness and safety as a |
| low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol | | | | weight loss aid. |
| in the process of atherosclerosis. | | | | Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre's Opinion |
| Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre's Opinion | | | | on Green tea versus Yerba mate as a possible |
| on Green tea versus Yerba mate as an | | | | Weight-Loss Aid |
| Antioxidant | | | | It is our honest opinion that diet and exercise |
| Quite honestly, we take green tea for our free | | | | combined is the best way to lose weight. |
| radical protection due to the following: | | | | However, if you've already decided to go the |
| First, we simply were impressed with green tea's | | | | supplement route and are deciding between these |
| population studies. For example, according to the | | | | two, it is difficult to know, which, if any, will be |
| well renowned tome "The Natural Physician's | | | | helpful to you. Moreover, we highly recommend |
| Healing Therapies" written by Mark Stengler, N.D. | | | | that you only use it under medical supervision. |
| who states: | | | | Precautions |
| "In general, it's been found that in populations of | | | | There have been studies done in Uruguay and |
| people who consume green tea on a regular basis, | | | | Paraguay that have linked esophageal cancer in |
| people have a much lower incidence of cancer | | | | heavy mate users. However, our research |
| than in populations where people drink other kinds | | | | indicates that these findings appear to have no |
| of tea or none at all. In Japan, for example, | | | | significance to Americans who drink a cup of |
| researchers noted significantly lower cancer rates. | | | | mate occasionally. |
| In large part, they feel, that's attributable to the | | | | Always consult a physician before taking any |
| high consumption of green tea." (Page 246.) | | | | medicinal amounts of yerba mate or green tea |
| Second, after extensive research through | | | | and/or taking any dietary supplements. |
| countless alternative health tomes written by | | | | |