YerbanLegend.com

Happy New Year! — Now, it’s back to reality.

After their holiday indulgences, many folks are especially conscious of their weight. Therefore, this seems like a good time to respond to one of the most-asked questions about yerba mate: “How does yerba mate aid in weight loss?”

I am a little uncomfortable about writing on this subject, but over a period of several years, I have lost more than 30 pounds. I credit the last, and most difficult, ten pounds to yerba mate. This article will share what I have learned in the process. I hope it will provide you with some insight if you choose to use yerba mate in your own diet program. 

As you stroll along the busy avenidas of Buenos Aires, you can’t help but notice how “slim and trim” everybody looks. It’s so apparent, there is a special word to describe the overweight person you see in Buenos Aires. The word is tourist. Why is this? Is there something in the Argentine diet that makes them healthy and fit?

A weight problem is usually related to lifestyle choices. Many overweight people fantasize about losing weight, but their fantasy does not include any lifestyle changes. This reminds me of the classic definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” If you want to indulge in the fantasy, then go ahead — spend your money on diet books, diet pills, diet programs and diet gurus. Unfortunately, your results will be mostly fantasy too. To lose the weight you gained from your current lifestyle, you have to change your lifestyle. It’s that simple.

There are two sides to the fitness coin – one is diet, the other is exercise — or stated differently — it’s calories in versus calories out. This should be obvious, yet most people seem to focus on one or the other, but not both. Results will come, but they are usually temporary.

To get control of your weight, you need a comprehensive health management plan. Remember those slim and trim folks in Buenos Aires? They have two things going for them. First, they do a lot more walking than we do here in the U. S.; and second, they drink a lot of yerba mate.

Here are the attributes of yerba mate that can have an impact on your weight loss program:

• ENERGY:  If feelings of lethargy are your excuse for not exercising, you need more energy. Yerba mate can provide that energy. The energy is more than the wake up “feeling” that you get from coffee — it’s real energy. This new found energy can be just the nudge you need to take a long walk, jog or ride a bike.
• APPETITE CONTROL:  If over-eating is a problem, you need to curb your appetite. One of the best known attributes of yerba mate is the feeling of gastric fullness. This will generally suppress unnecessary hunger.
• MOTIVATION:  If you feel stressed, out of sorts and lack motivation, maybe a better sense of well-being will help. Yerba mate’s unique, natural combination of nutrients produces a sense of peace and overall well-being.
• CALORIE CONTROL:  If you already eat a healthy cuisine and get plenty of exercise, you might still need to burn more calories. Yerba mate’s thermogenic properties will promote the burning of calories in your body.
• SLEEP:  If you aren’t getting enough sleep, or a restful enough sleep, you need to improve the sleep you do get. Sleep deprivation is one of many causes of weight gain. An often reported benefit of regular yerba mate consumption is a sounder, more restful sleep.

Allow me to offer a few more observations. One is the “period of adjustment.” If you are new to yerba mate, it may take a few weeks for your system to adapt to this new food stuff. Hang in there, because the same type of changes would occur with any abrupt change in your diet.

 The brand of yerba mate you choose can make a difference too. Since there is no standard to measure the nutrients against, there is no guarantee that every brand will deliver the nutrients in just the right proportions to promote weight loss in your body. Different brands have different attributes depending on how and where the yerba is grown or how it is harvested, cured and aged. These differences are manifested in variations of color, taste, potency and consistency. Experiment a little and choose a brand that works for you.

By this time, you are probably asking “How much should I drink?” I have always recommended three cups a day as an appropriate amount for an overall health management program. If you want to lose weight, increase the number of cups to four or five a day. Yerba mate is not usually consumed at meals, so you may want to schedule your drinks an hour before each meal. It is important to note here, that yerba mate does contain caffeine. It is a lower level of caffeine than coffee, but you probably don’t want to drink your mate in the evening. You should reduce the other sources of caffeine in your diet too.

When will you see results? In terms of weight loss, everybody is coming from a different starting point and results will vary. You might notice results in as little as two weeks, but why not give it a try for 45 days. Yerba mate is not a miracle drug; it is but one component of a responsible health management program and should be considered as an addition to a healthy diet and sufficient exercise after consultation with your doctor.

Salud!

(An excellent weight management website is: www.prevention.com )