Dangers of Yerba Mate - Studies Show this Health Tea is Linked to Cancer

Why People Like Yerba Mate

Proponents of yerba mate, a plant from South America consumed like tea, claim that it has more antioxidants than green tea, and can boost your energy, strengthen your immune system and help you achieve mental clarity. Proponents also like the “buzz” they get without the typical afternoon crash associated with caffeinated beverages like coffee or soda. While the purported health benefits have been widely touted in the media, some studies have shown that yerba mate may not be such a health food after all.

Yerba Mate and Cancer

The Los Angeles Times reports that a number of studies have shown that people who frequently consume yerba mate have a higher risk of certain cancers. What’s interesting is that these studies have been conducted on humans, while many of the studies showing yerba mate’s health benefits have been conducted on animals.

A review published in Head and Neck in 2003 found that people who drink more than a liter of yerba mate per day have a higher incidence of cancers affecting the mouth, esophagus and lungs. In addition, a peer-reviewed study of over 1,000 people found that those who consumed yerba mate regularly had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer – 60 percent higher than those who did not consume yerba mate. Researchers who studied yerba mate in 1994 and published their results in Epidemiology concluded that as many as 20 percent of cancers in South America could be linked to yerba mate consumption.

The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center also finds that large amounts of yerba mate can result in insomnia, vomiting and headaches, and warns that yerba mate may present health risks. The world-renowned cancer center specifically states that frequent consumption of yerba mate has been linked with an increased risk of several cancers. They also review a study conducted in Uruguay that showed that yerba mate drinkers are seven times more likely to get bladder cancer than people who do not drink large amounts of yerba mate.

Another well-respected health organization, the Mayo Clinic, also has concerns about yerba mate. Their dietician, Katherine Zeratsky, recommends avoiding yerba mate until more research can be done on this popular beverage.

The Bottom Line on Yerba Mate

So what is the bottom line on the health benefits of yerba mate? Like most nutrition-related topics, there are well-founded arguments on both sides. However, numerous studies suggest that there may be some health risks involved with drinking large amounts of yerba mate. Most of those studies do find that an increased risk comes from drinking large amounts of yerba mate, so drinking one cup a day may be quite different than drinking three cups several times each day. Until more research can be done, it may be best to consume yerba mate in moderation.