Are you concerned about yerba mate and its potential negative health impacts, especially regarding cancer? Let's examine this important topic about yerba mate and cancer, to clarify if yerba mate is harmful.

In this article we will separate the facts and myths about yerba mate and cancer, equipping you with the information you need to make an informed decision about yerba mate.

Yerba Mate and Cancer Risks: Insights from the Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic reports, "Yerba mate is unlikely to pose a risk to healthy adults who consume it occasionally. However, certain studies suggest that individuals who consume large quantities of yerba mate for extended periods might face a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, and lungs." Let's examine the evidence regarding yerba mate and its connection to cancer.

The Temperature Factor: Does Hot Yerba Mate Pose a Health Risk?

The Mayo Clinic has raised concerns about the temperature at which yerba mate is consumed. According to their FAQ on "What is Yerba Mate," various studies have sounded alarms over the general consumption of yerba mate beverages. The guidance highlights a specific risk associated with drinking yerba mate at very high temperatures — 149°F (65°C) or hotter. This practice is linked to an increased risk of cancer compared to consuming yerba mate at lower temperatures. But why might hot yerba mate be harmful?

One possible reason is the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in yerba mate. PAHs are recognized carcinogens, also found in tobacco smoke and grilled meats. The correlation between yerba mate's high-temperature consumption and cancer risk necessitates further research into its safety and potential side effects.

Exploring the Evidence: Yerba Mate and Its Cancer Risk Connection

When searching on Google, I come across a significant article on PubMed.gov titled "Cancer and yerba mate consumption: a review of possible associations." A crucial takeaway from the study’s conclusion emphasizes the role of temperature in potentially increasing cancer risk. The statement clarified:

"The temperature may cause harm by damaging the mucosa or speeding up metabolic reactions, including those involving carcinogenic substances found in tobacco and alcohol. Yet, a comprehensive population-based case-control study specifically examining mate consumption as a cancer risk factor is lacking."

Another highly ranked article in Google Search results, authored by Andrew Weil, MD, under the title "Can Yerba Mate Tea Cause Cancer?" notes that:

While only a few studies have identified a connection between cancer and yerba mate, the highest risk appears to be among individuals who also smoke and heavily consume alcohol. Remarkably, one study indicated an elevated risk for cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus among regular yerba mate drinkers who neither smoke nor drink alcohol.

The potential cancer risk may stem from yerba mate's content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known carcinogens. One study highlighted alarmingly high levels of PAHs in yerba mate leaves and their infusions, both hot and cold. (Similar compounds are also found in tobacco smoke and grilled meats.)

Also, a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), under the World Health Organization (WHO), suggested that the high temperatures at which yerba mate is consumed might be a contributing factor, rather than the plant's components themselves.

Understanding PAHs: The Controversial Compound in Yerba Mate

What are PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)? According to the   , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals found naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline. They're also produced when coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco are burned. PAHs can attach to or form small particles in the air. The high heat used in cooking meat and other foods can generate PAHs.

Daily Exposure and the Connection to PAHs

The CDC Fact Sheet outlines several ways people can be exposed to PAHs:

• By inhaling air polluted with motor vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, wood smoke, or asphalt road fumes.
• Through the consumption of grilled or charred meats and foods.
• By eating foods contaminated with PAH particles that have settled from the air.
• In some cases, through skin contact.

Once PAHs enter the body, they are converted into by-products called metabolites, which are excreted through urine and feces. The health impacts of indirect exposure to low levels of PAHs remain uncertain. However, scientists have identified several PAH compounds and specific mixtures as carcinogenic.

Processing Impact: Smoke-Dried Yerba Mate and Cancer Concerns

Yerba Mate and the PAH Connection

A leading concern regarding yerba mate is its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content. Research indicates that commercially processed yerba mate leaves contain significant PAH levels, partly due to environmental contamination affecting even unprocessed leaves.

It's crucial to recognize that PAH exposure is a common part of daily life. PAHs are present if you smoke, consume barbecued, smoked, grilled, or roasted foods, and even in fruits, vegetables, and grains. PAHs pervade our environment, appearing in air, water, and soil, making complete avoidance nearly impossible.

Smoke-Dried Yerba Mate

The smoke-drying process of yerba mate involves curing the leaves over burning wood, which some suggest could introduce PAHs, known carcinogens, into the leaves. These compounds may then be released during brewing.

Numerous studies on commercially available yerba mate brands have detected high levels of PAHs, pointing to the smoke-drying method—predominant among producers—as a likely source of contamination.

While some research discusses the potential for substances produced during gas combustion to be carcinogenic, these are primarily hypotheses without definitive conclusions. Currently, there's no solid evidence directly linking yerba mate consumption to cancer. Consequently, avoiding yerba mate solely due to PAH concerns may be an overreaction.

Exploring Yerba Mate Varieties: Choices Beyond Cancer Concerns

Varieties of Yerba Mate

Like wine and coffee, yerba mate boasts a plethora of types. Cultivated in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, each country produces its unique style of yerba mate. Opting for tea from reputable companies who disclose the processing, packaging dates, and provide storage tips is crucial for maintaining the herb's quality.

As highlighted by Yerba Mate Lab, "Yerba mate presents a diverse palette of colors, tastes, strengths, cuts, and even effects. These variations stem from each type's specific harvesting, processing, and aging methods."

Navigating the Wide Varieties of Yerba

Yerba mate offers a spectrum from mild to strong, sweet to bitter, and even flavored varieties. Pricing varies as widely as the product types. Numerous yerba mate options are tailored to enhance specific qualities, such as anti-acidity, liver health, cholesterol management, organic, weight loss, digestive regulation, sleep aid, and energy boosting. The possibilities are endless! 

Unimate's Unique Benefits: Sourced for Purity, Processed for Power

What Sets Unimate Yerba Mate Apart?

At Unicity International (formally Rexall), our mission is to deliver superior nutritional products that are safe, effective, and scientifically proven. Unimate stands out as a prime example, offering a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and potent secondary metabolites, including chlorogenic acids and triterpenoid saponins.

Unimate not only enhances mental clarity and mood but also supports endurance. The Yerba Mate extract in Unimate boasts ten times the antioxidant-rich chlorogenic acid compared to a cup of coffee, alongside valuable theobromine and triterpenoid saponins.

• Chlorogenic Acids: These compounds are known for promoting neuroprotective gene expression and offering antioxidant effects in the brain, boosting feelings of well-being. They support healthy blood pressure and glucose levels and are linked to weight loss.
• Mate Saponins: Essential for maintaining healthy triglyceride levels and enhancing the body's fat-burning capabilities.
• Theobromine: Aids in sustaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, fostering a sense of calm, diminishing mental fatigue, and sharpening focus.

Unimate's Patented 5-Step Process

Unicity Unimate stands out in the yerba mate landscape. Cultivated on Unicity's dedicated farms in the untouched landscapes of South America, our yerba mate undergoes meticulous selection and fire-roasting, followed by expert processing at the Unimate Research Institute. The unique 5-step patented process—Hand Picking, Fire Roasting, Extracting, Concentrating, and Purifying—renders it 375 times more potent than other yerba mate products on the market.

Unimate Yerba Mate: Cultivation and Harvest

The superiority of Unimate begins with its cultivation. Grown in the nutrient-rich soils of South America, our yerba mate flourishes in a pristine, pollution-free environment, guaranteeing a harvest of unmatched quality. From its inception, Unimate is collected using a sustainable method designed by Unicity, reflecting our dedication to purity and performance.

Benefits of Unicity's Yerba Mate: Enhancing Brain, Body, and Mood

Unimate delivers a significant punch with up to 10 times more chlorogenic acid than a standard cup of coffee, offering a robust "get-up-and-go" without the subsequent crashes or jitters. But it's not solely about the immediate boost; it's about sustaining energy that supports your daily vitality and endurance, all through natural means.

Unimate transcends the role of a mere energy booster; it acts as a metabolic pioneer. By elevating your body's ketone levels, it facilitates a cleaner, more efficient fuel source for mental clarity and metabolic function. Perfect for those engaging in intermittent fasting, Unimate aids in achieving wellness goals with each sip. Explore three additional benefits of Unimate:

• Cognitive Clarity: The impact of yerba mate on the brain is notable, from enhancing dopamine for improved motivation to maintaining mental agility.
• Energizing Dynamics: Yerba mate has long been a source of physical energy, with a caffeine content that strikes a perfect balance between tea and coffee. It assists in fat utilization and boosts muscle contractions during physical activity.
• Mood Elevation: Experience the mood-enhancing properties of yerba mate, fostering a sense of well-being and relaxation. This contributes to its long-standing reputation as a beverage that genuinely uplifts.

Unicity extends the centuries-old legacy of yerba mate, celebrating not only its physical advantages but also the comprehensive sense of well-being it offers to those who drink it.

Unimate’s Potency and Clinical Backing: The Science Behind Yerba Mate

Clinical Science & Research on Unimate Yerba Mate

Understanding the value of Unimate yerba mate comes from both our proprietary process and clinical research, as well as a review of the latest scientific literature. Thanks to this rigorous research, Unimate has been included in the Prescribers' Desk Reference (PDR), marking it as the only yerba mate backed by science. This achievement underscores Unicity’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge science with the traditional benefits of yerba mate, reinforcing our mission to support healthy lifestyles through the Feel Great System.

A notable study from the University of Illinois found that bioactive compounds in yerba mate could disrupt colon cancer cells in laboratory settings. The research highlighted how caffeine derivatives in yerba mate damaged cancer cell DNA, leading to cellular self-destruction. However, it’s important to note that no human studies have conclusively linked yerba mate consumption to a reduced risk of colon cancer.

As part of Unicity International’s Genomeceutical™ product line, Unimate contains chlorogenic acids and triterpenoid saponins. These compounds are documented to support healthy gene expression.

The Oxford Happiness Study revealed that Unimate could enhance mood, with a group of subjects experiencing a 20% increase in psychological well-being, as measured by the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. This improvement is likely attributed to the mood and cognition-supporting properties of chlorogenic acids.

The Zurich Clinical Trial further demonstrated Unimate’s ability to maintain healthy blood-lipid and glucose levels, observing significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood-glucose, and HbA1c levels in participants after 30 days of daily intake. Additional research supports Unimate's role in promoting healthy weight loss, highlighting yerba mate’s triterpenoid saponins’ impact on the expression of genes related to obesity.  

Ready to elevate your daily routine with the scientifically backed power of Unimate yerba mate?

Experience the science-based benefits of Unimate for yourself. From enhancing mental clarity and boosting energy levels to supporting a healthy lifestyle, Unimate is more than just a drink—it's a step towards a better, healthier you. Don't miss out on this unique blend of tradition and science. Order Unimate today and feel the difference with every sip. Click here to begin your journey to wellness with Unimate!

More articles on Unimate:

• Unimate vs other Yerba Mate Drinks
• Yerba Mate and Cancer: Safe to Consume
• Yerba Mate Benefits without Harmful Cancer-Causing PAHs