Pre-Workout With Yerba Mate: A Go-To Ingredient for Lasting Energy
When you’re putting in long hours at the gym or on the job site, the importance of the right nutrition can’t be overstated. Before a good sweat, your body needs vitamins and energy from natural sources. Yerba mate pre-workout beverages might be just what you need.🧉
Derived from the Ilex paraguariensis plant, yerba mate is one of the best pre-workout ingredients to keep you energized, alert, and focused for the day ahead. But when paired with adaptogens like ashwagandha and lion's mane, yerba mate-infused drinks become a powerhouse for lasting energy.
In contrast to energy drinks that can give you the jitters, yerba mate functional beverages offer clean, focused energy from a natural source. It’s the kind of energy that won’t leave you with a headache and an energy crash.
Curious about why yerba mate’s quickly becoming a go-to staple in athletes’, martial arts instructors’, and artists’ lives? Well, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the sensation that is yerba mate, including why it’s fast becoming an all-star for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, pre- and post-workout. We’ll also discuss:
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Why athletes turn to yerba mate for pre-workout support
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The science behind yerba mate for pre-workout activities
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The benefits of yerba mate, pre- and post-workout
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How to consume yerba mate pre-workout and post-workout
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Where you can purchase yerba mate for your next workout
Why athletes turn to yerba mate drinks for pre-workout support
Part of the reason athletes continue to turn to yerba mate to fuel their day is that yerba mate contains what your body needs to feel strong. It provides a comprehensive support system for your body:
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Antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals
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Polyphenols to help regulate inflammation, disease, and weight
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Balanced caffeine that provides clear mental focus, alertness, and support for endurance training
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A natural pre-workout and post-exercise drink that won’t leave you with jitters or a spike-and-dip crash.
Finally, with essential vitamins like vitamin B1 and B2, and minerals like phosphorus, iron, and calcium to support muscle recovery, yerba mate is a centuries-old plant that offers clean, lasting energy for modern life.
Athletes continue to turn to it because it provides essential energy that feels balanced and consistent, regardless of the workout.💪🏼
The science behind yerba mate for pre-workout activities
So, how exactly does yerba mate power the mind and body?
Yerba mate’s energy comes from its natural, plant-based source of caffeine and theobromine. Together, these compounds help increase the oxidation of fatty acids, supporting your body as it burns fat.
What’s more, as a rich natural source of chlorogenic acid, consuming yerba mate can be helpful for metabolic and neurological health, as it’s often used as a heart-healthy food with insulin-resistant properties.
By supporting focus, energy, concentration, satiety, and metabolic activity, yerba mate supports heart, mind, and body in a trifecta that supports active individuals, pre- and mid-workout.
Benefits of yerba mate, pre- and post-workout
Speaking of mind, body, and heart benefits, yerba mate also provides a number of health benefits that can support your vibe all day long:
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Smooth, lasting energy: Unlike coffee or synthetic energy drinks with artificial sweeteners and fillers, yerba mate-based beverages offer smooth energy all day long due to the theobromine and theophylline compounds that work to deliver energy without the crash.
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Endurance-driven performance: Yerba mate is unique in that it provides sustained energy over longer time periods, due to improved circulation and reduced fatigue that can occur while sipping this beverage.
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Reduced inflammation and oxidative stress: Due to its rich antioxidants, nutrients, and B vitamins, yerba mate helps combat inflammation by mediating muscle function, hydration, and metabolic processes.
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Promotes weight management: Yerba mate is often used to help increase metabolic activity and help your body become more efficient at using fat for fuel, especially when combined with a balanced diet and lifestyle.
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Post-workout recovery: The polyphenols and saponins in yerba mate can help reduce inflammation, soreness, and muscle fatigue, as well as support joint health after a workout.
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Improved mental clarity and focus: Especially when paired with ashwagandha and lion’s mane, yerba mate provides a steady state of alertness without the jitters or overstimulation that can occur with caffeine-rich beverages like coffee. For this reason, many athletes choose to consume yerba mate to help stay focused during training.
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Natural, clean energy: In contrast to many sugar-free, artificially sweetened, synthetic energy drinks, yerba mate stands out as a clean source of natural energy in a relatively crowded market of synthetic beverages. As a result, mate is often the cleaner, healthier option compared to energy drinks with synthetic additives.
How to consume yerba mate pre-workout and post-workout
The question then is: What’s the best way to consume yerba mate before and after a workout? Here are a few tips for making the most of a yerba mate beverage:
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Pre-workout: To maximize energy and focus, we recommend sipping yerba mate beverages 30-45 minutes before training.
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Post-workout: To maximize recovery, consume yerba mate within 30 minutes after your workout. Doing so helps your muscles recover from post-workout oxidative stress.
If you’re looking for extended support while you’re working out, you can even sip a ready-to-drink canned yerba mate beverage. Doing so will help keep you hydrated during your workout session.
Fast facts about yerba mate, adaptogens, and caffeine
Scientists tested caffeine-only versus caffeine plus adaptogen-based beverages over nearly two hours. In the study, they found that when caffeine was combined with adaptogens like ashwagandha and lion’s mane, the resulting effect was steady mental energy and mood.⚡
Putting that in perspective, yerba mate with lion’s mane and ashwagandha can give you sustained focus compared to a caffeine-only-based beverage, such as coffee, which can spike energy levels and lead to a subsequent crash.
👉🏼To learn about the findings of this study, including how much longer you’ll stay focused if you consume caffeine with adaptogens versus caffeine alone, check out our Instagram page.
Need a natural pre-workout companion that’ll give you steady, focused energy?
The research is clear: Caffeinated sources, like yerba mate, when combined with adaptogens, provide lasting, steady, and focused energy. Today, you can find yerba mate in grocery stores and online retailers.
If you’re looking for a ready-to-drink, grab-and-go yerba mate drink that provides lasting energy before, during, and after a workout, we invite you to sip a can of Ola Mate.
With three delicious flavors to choose from, like Raspberry Bliss, Grapefruit Ginger, and Berry Coconut Lavender, each 25-30-calorie, 16-ounce can comes complete with essential vitamins and minerals that are built to keep you focused and ready to pump iron and log miles.
Plus, all Ola Mate beverages use clean, organic, and non-GMO ingredients, meaning you’ll be treating your body well, all while you work it out.
To see what all the buzz is about yerba mate, we invite you to shop our entire collection of yerba mate infusions.🧉
And, if you like what you taste (and even if you don’t), drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!
