Shock for “mate” lovers..a frightening study on the health risks of a popular drink

Although tea is largely touted for its health benefits, the safety of one drink has come into question since it has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, and experts have linked one herbal tea, native to South America, with six different forms of cancer.

Yerba maté is an herbal tea widely promoted for its high antioxidant content, and is often likened to green tea, with some sources claiming it contains 90% more antioxidants than the latter.

But despite boasting minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, studies show that the drink may increase the risk of some types of cancer.

And (RT) quoted the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: “High doses and prolonged use of mate tea are associated with an increased risk of prostate, bladder, oral, esophageal, lung, head and neck cancer.”

According to studies, tea contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also found in grilled meats and tobacco smoke.

Studies have shown that exposure to the carcinogen can have dangerous effects on the immune, reproductive, and nervous systems.

In one early study conducted in Uruguay, researchers found that yerba mate drinkers were 60% more likely to develop lung cancer than those who did not. The study was conducted on a sample of 1,000 Uruguayan adults.

The results indicated that the drink could increase a person's risk of developing cancer of the respiratory system or cancer of the digestive system.

They also revealed that patients were more likely to develop small cell lung cancer, a less common form of the disease.

Small cell lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking, but the researchers controlled for this variable in the study.

The findings led to the suggestion that yerba mate could be responsible for up to one in five cases of these cancers in South America.

The results were consistent with additional research published in the same journal in 2003 that examined a sample of 800 adults. This time, the results revealed that drinking yerba mate can triple the risk of esophageal cancer.

In a paper published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Environmental Science and Technology in 2012, the researchers explained: “Recent evidence shows that drinking yerba mate may be a major source of exposure to PAHs, possibly causing as much exposure as smoking tobacco. ».

Assuming an average use of 50 grams of leaves, drinking an average cup of yerba mate in the traditional way would expose the consumer to the equivalent smoke content of 100 cigarettes (five packs), the researchers added.

It should be noted, however, that although the results appear as a cautionary note for heavy yerba mate drinkers, the evidence is conflicting.

Separate lines of research have identified a group of unique plant compounds in tea that have the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Furthermore, the above findings stem from epidemiological studies, so no causal relationship between Yerba maté and cancer has been confirmed.

Researchers stress that moderate consumption of yerba mate is safe, but those who regularly consume large amounts should limit their intake.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news