
Is it worthwhile to try yerba mate, yaupon tea, matcha, and other beverages that have invaded the coffee and tea markets and offer comparable energy advantages and health benefits when you're feeling low on energy? These coffee substitutes are popular and frequently advertised as "wellness drinks," according to the International Food Information Council.
So how do a few well-known substitutes compare nutritionally? Do they depend on coffee to give them energy? Do they include plant components that could be beneficial or harmful?
An introduction to coffee and tea
Coffee lovers savour the aroma and rich, deep flavour of their favourite beverage while getting a caffeine energy boost that enhances clarity and focus. However, not everyone enjoys it because it can make some individuals restless and irritate delicate stomachs due to the acidity and caffeine.
Tea, a relative of coffee, is consumed by one-third of Americans and is the second most popular beverage worldwide after water. Herbal teas have little to no caffeine, but the majority of tea varieties have around half the acidity of coffee. Tea contains antioxidants that are good for your health, like flavanols.
Black tea has about 47 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, green tea has about 28 mg, instant coffee has about 60 mg, and brewed coffee has about 95 mg.
Yarba Mate: What You Need to Know
The Ilex paraguariensis tree in South America produces yerba mate (also known as mate), an herbal tea with a more bitter and earthy flavour than other teas. It has the same amount of caffeine as coffee or more (80 to 175 mg per cup), as well as antioxidant polyphenols like chlorogenic acid. It may help people lose weight and lower their blood cholesterol, according to preliminary research, but more research is needed. Because of the caffeine in it, users report feeling less tired and more focused, but not jittery.
Cons: Some meat processing techniques, such as smoking the leaves to dry them, may add polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are the same cancer-causing compounds found in grilled meats. Certain cancers, particularly those of the head and neck, stomach, bladder, and lung, are linked in certain studies to mate consumption in large amounts over time. Unsmoked mate, on the other hand, which is dried by air processing, might be safer.
Information on yaupon tea
Yaupon is an herbal tea, much like mate. It is a native of the US and tastes something like grassy green tea. It has antioxidants and chlorogenic acid, which are said to reduce inflammation and increase energy. This tea has 60 mg of caffeine per cup in addition to theobromine, a chemical that is chemically related to caffeine and is present in many teas and cocoa beans. While caffeine gives a quick but fleeting boost, theobromine takes longer to kick in and lasts longer than caffeine. Theobromine boosts blood flow and may increase energy and alertness.
Theobromine and caffeine together may cause your heart rate to rise and interfere with sleep, especially if you consume a lot of yaupon or sip it too soon before bed.