Yerba mate and Sport
A common drink in Uruguay, Argentina or Paraguay, yerba mate seems to have crossed the pond in recent years, and it is increasingly common to find Europeans enjoying this beneficial infusion. Due to its characteristics, athletes are one of the groups that can obtain the most benefits from yerba mate, which among other things is part of the group of natural energizers, is an antioxidant and provides us with a large amount of minerals and vitamins. If you have doubts, do not miss the 7 most outstanding benefits of yerba mate for athletes.
- The best stimulant
There is no stimulant of the central nervous system better than mate. It contains caffeine, but unlike coffee it does not cause energy dips and keeps us stimulated for longer hours. If we compare it with other energy or stimulant drinks, yerba mate infusions are 100% natural, and they do not have side effects like those of these drinks. In addition, you can enjoy mate both hot and cold.
- Improves concentration
By not causing palpitations or those lows, it not only produces an improvement in physical energy, it also helps you to enhance mental concentration. The large amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that it provides balances the caffeine content, something that undoubtedly favors the concentration of those who take it. That is why it will help you not only when you do sports, but its benefits are also noticed when you study or at work.
- Mate and lactic acid
One of the great enemies of athletes is lactic acid, which manifests itself as training progresses and we approach our limits. Well, mate helps us prevent the accumulation of lactic acid in the body, thus avoiding that burning sensation in the muscles that prevents us from continuing with the session or forces us to do it at a lower rate than desired.
- Delays the onset of fatigue and tiredness
Related to the stimulating properties that we talked about at the beginning, one of the effects of mate is that it forces our metabolism to use carbohydrates more efficiently, which allows us to optimize the energy we use. In other words, mate allows us to train for longer before fatigue and tiredness appear, thanks to what increases physical resistance.
- It is stress-free
The search for a certain result that has not just arrived or the difficulties in combining training with our professional and personal life cause stress, but thanks to the contribution of antioxidants that mate supposes, it helps reduce stress, benefiting our cardiovascular health in the process. The result, a better physical condition essential to practice any sport with a minimum of success.
- Helps you rest better
Another key to performing at your best is rest. Any athlete needs to sleep well, and mate will help us get a better rest. Although it seems like a contradiction due to its stimulating nature, mate helps to fight insomnia, while the effect of other stimulant drinks more common in athletes than mate is precisely the opposite, preventing a good rest.
- It is recuperative
And we do not mean only that it helps you sleep and rest better after your hard training sessions, mate infusions play an important role in recovery after training. It is estimated that the recovery rate after strength routines increases by 9% in the 24 hours after training, and due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties it is presented as an ideal product to recover injured muscles or joints.
Other benefits of mate
In addition to being rich in antioxidants, yerba mate contains caffeine, so it can give a temporary boost of energy. It also contains L-theanine and amino acids that help with concentration and attention.
Previous research has suggested beneficial effects of mate for diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Before training
Mate infusions increase energy levels in the body in a more subtle way than other caffeinated beverages such as coffee. In fact, many people prefer mate as their pre-workout drink because it works as a stimulant and is more natural than other sports supplements. It also allows you to integrate sport into your daily life and do several activities a day: work, study, run, etc.
During the training
Mate makes the metabolism use carbohydrates more efficiently, which indicates that we will have more and better energy to spend. This significantly increases endurance for any physical activity, that is, it prolongs the ability to train longer before fatigue or tiredness appears. In addition, this infusion helps prevent the accumulation of lactic acid in the body, which can cause a burning sensation in the muscles and prevent us from continuing with the exercise.
There are other advantages of yerba mate that position it as a natural option for exercise: its contribution of antioxidants, its ability to reduce stress and its benefits in cardiovascular health, are properties that allow you to have a better physical condition and body condition optimal, contributing to high performance in any activity.
Yerba Mate after training
A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition explains the incredible effect of mate on post-workout recovery. According to this post, the recovery rate after a strength routine increases by 9% up to 24 hours after training. Yerba Mate has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties ideal for injured muscle.
