Yerba mate decreases your risk of metabolic disorders

Yerba mate is a herbal dietary supplement taken for weight loss. A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined its ability to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.

• Rats were divided into two groups: a control group given a high-fat diet and a control group with a high-fat diet but supplemented with yerba mate.
• Upon analysis of the animals, the researchers found that yerba mate increased energy expenditure and thermogenic gene mRNA expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) and decreased fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA expression in WAT. These changes were associated with decreases in body weight, WAT weight, epididymal adipocyte size, and plasma leptin level.
• In the liver, yerba mate caused reductions in the levels of plasma lipids (free fatty acids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol) and liver aminotransferase enzymes, as well as the accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets and lipid content by inhibiting the activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes, such as FAS and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, and increasing fecal lipid excretion.
• Yerba mate was also noted to have decreased plasma insulin levels and insulin resistance.

According to the researchers, these findings indicate that long-term yerba mate supplementation can help in improving diet-induced adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hepatic steatosis.

Learn about other herbs for weight loss and better digestion at Herbs.news.

Journal Reference:

Choi MS, Park HJ, Kim SR, Kim DY, Jung UJ. LONG-TERM DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH YERBA MATE AMELIORATES DIET-INDUCED OBESITY AND METABOLIC DISORDERS IN MICE BY REGULATING ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND LIPID METABOLISM. Journal of Medicinal Food. 1 December 2017;20(12):1168–1175. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.3995