Messi’s favorite drink
Professional athletes are always looking to improve their performance and the smallest changes to lifestyle, training and diet can make a difference.
In recent years, more and more footballers have started drinking mate tea – a beverage that Pope Francis is fond of. The trend has spread across the Atlantic, from South America to Europe, reports football website Goal.com.
Since it is a traditional South American drink, it is no surprise to learn that soccer stars from countries like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay regularly drink mate tea.
Lionel Messi is probably the most famous footballer to have enjoyed the drink. He regularly posts pictures of himself with a cup of mate on social media.
According to Yahoo News, the Argentine national team carries a large amount of mate tea with them when they travel to matches. So do the Uruguayan national team and Inter Miami football club.
According to Inter Miami nutritionist Daniela Lara, the Inter Miami staff packed 11.3kg of yerba mate tea when they traveled to Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan during the preseason. For a typical away game, they brought along some yerba mate tea bags, an extra kettle and straws.
“I think at least half the team drink mate, partly because caffeine is a stimulant like coffee, which makes them more alert and less tired, but also because of its nutritional value and because it helps teammates bond before and after training and competition,” says Lara.
Alongside Messi, Argentine defender Franco Negri also enjoys mate tea. “I started drinking it when I was young, and even more so when I became a professional footballer because in our culture we prepare and share mate with our teammates as a way to get through good and bad times together,” he said.
“This drink has been a fundamental part of every team I have played for. It helps us bond together.”
What is mate tea?
Mate (pronounced mah-teh) is a traditional South American caffeine-rich hot beverage made from dried and chopped yerba mate leaves, according to the BBC. Yerba mate is a species of holly native to South America.
When brewing this tea, yerba mate leaves are placed inside a bowl or cup, which can be made from a variety of materials: a hollow, dried gourd called a calabaza, wood, metal, leather-covered glass, or silicone.
Mate tea has a bitter taste and is especially popular in countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, as well as Syria and Lebanon. In particular, this tea is considered the “national drink” of Argentina.
Sometimes called chimarrao in Portuguese or cimarron in Spanish, this drink originated with the indigenous Guarani and Tupi people of South America.
Mate tea is often enjoyed with friends, with everyone sharing a pot. Although it is usually served hot, mate can also be served as an iced tea.
Health benefits of mate tea
The reason mate tea is so popular among football players is because of the health benefits it brings, according to Goal.com.
A caffeine-rich beverage, mate tea is said to help increase focus and improve mood. One cup of yerba mate tea contains about 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is about the same as a cup of coffee.
It is also a great source of polyphenol antioxidants, which help shorten recovery time after intense workouts.
This drink also contains vitamins B and C, which are important for metabolism and the immune system.
“It’s very low in calories, 12 to 15 calories per cup, improves digestion, can lower bad cholesterol, and has vitamins A, C, E, and zinc,” says nutritionist Lara. “Some people add sweeteners, but most athletes drink it without sweeteners because it’s healthier.”
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