Yerba mate improves recovery rate after exercise
Known as a social beverage in South America, yerba mate may also become a sports supplement for improving strength recovery after physical exercise. Brazilian scientists discovered that yerba mate improves the rate of recovery from eccentric exercise by nearly 9% for up to 24 hours afterwards. Eccentric exercise, where the muscle is forcibly lengthened like while lowering a dumbbell, can result in muscle damage and a decline in strength, and may require a recovery period of several days. It turns out that yerba mate can improve the rate of recovery due to the presence of phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties such as phenolic compounds and saponins. The research was published in the British Journal of Nutrition.