Yerba Mate supplements may help weight loss and metabolic dysfunction, according to a study recently published in International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition.

The study led by researchers at School of Public Health, University of São Paulo in São Paulo , Brazil shows that Yerba Mate supplementation reduced weight gain and total cholesterol in rats on a high fat diet, compared with rats without receiving the supplement.

In the study, the aqueous Yerba Mate extract was used daily in a dose of 1 g/kg body weight for four weeks.

The study concluded based on this and other findings that Yerba Mate is helpful in improving metabolic dysfunction induced by a high fat diet.

Yerba Mate has been used as a dietary supplement to help weight loss.  (David Liu)

Fujii TM, Jacob PS, Yamada M, Borges MC, Norde MM, Pantaleão LC, Oliveira DM, Tirapegui J, Castro IA, Borelli P, Fock RA, Rogero MM.  Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) modulates NF-kappaB pathway and AKT expression in the liver of rats fed on a high-fat diet.  Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014 Aug 4:1-10.

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