Yes, most Yerba Mate will break your fast. Depending on the type and form of Yerba Mate you consume it may break your fast to varying degrees.
There seems to be some confusion online about whether or not drinking Yerba Mate breaks a fast. Some people say that it does, while others maintain that it doesn’t. So, what’s the truth? Does Yerba Mate break your fast or not?
The levels of caffeine and theobromine in Yerba Mate are generally what will determine if it breaks your fast or not.
If you consume a small amount of Yerba Mate, it’s unlikely that it will break your intermittent fast. However, if you drink a lot of it or if you drink it in tea form it will surely break your fast and ruin your hard work.
Types of Yerba Mate
There are many different ways to consume Yerba Mate. The most common is to drink it as tea, but you can also find it in energy drinks, capsules, and even chewing gum. All of these forms will break your fast because they all contain caffeine.
Caffeine is the main reason why Yerba Mate breaks your intermittent fast. It’s a stimulant that increases your heart rate and will throw your body out of a fasted state.
Argentine Yerba Mate
Argentine Yerba Mate is the most popular type of Yerba Mate. It’s made from the leaves of the Ilex Paraguariensis plant and it contains about 24-40mg of caffeine per cup.
Argentine yerba mate will break your fast because it contains a lot of caffeine.
Types of Argentine Yerba Mate include:
- Mission
- Kraus
- Cruz de Malta
Paraguayan Yerba Mate
These mates from Paraguay are brighter, cleaner, and grassier than their Argentine counterparts. You might also find a touch of sweetness or floral aromatics.
Types of Paraguayan Mate include:
- Ascension
- Pajarito
- Selecta
Gaucho Yerba Mate
Gaucho Yerba Mate is a type of Paraguayan Yerba Mate that’s been aged for a minimum of two years. This process gives it a more intense flavor that some people find unpalatable.
Gaucho Yerba Mate will also break your fast because it contains caffeine.
This is often compared to the espresso of yerba mates because of its high caffeine content.
Types of Gaucho Yerba Mate include:
- Canarias
- Galaxy
- Ximango
There are also several supplements for gym goers on the market that contain Yerba Mate if you would rather not spend the time brewing and preparing your own Yerba Mate.
Alternatives to Yerba Mate to Prevent Breaking Fast
Since we know that most likely Yerba Mate will break your intermittent fast, what are some good alternatives?
Some good alternatives to yerba mate include:
- teas without caffeine (herbal teas)
- decaffeinated coffee
- water with lemon or lime juice
- sparkling water
- club soda
Yerba Mate and the Keto Diet
You may be wondering if Yerba Mate is Keto friendly?
The short answer is yes, Yerba Mate is keto-friendly.
Yerba Mate has 0 grams of carbs and 0 grams of sugar making it a perfect drink for the keto diet.
It’s also calorie-free which makes it a great way to get your caffeine fix without having to worry about breaking your ketosis.
Yerba Mate and the Vertical Diet
Is Yerba Mate allowed on the Vertical Diet?
The Vertical Diet is a nutritional approach that focuses on optimizing micronutrient intake.
Yerba Mate is allowed on the vertical diet, however, it’s important to note that it does contain caffeine.
If you are following the vertical diet and are sensitive to caffeine, you may want to limit your consumption of Yerba Mate. As this diet suggests low caffeine consumption, be sure not to overdue it.
Yerba Mate and the Whole 30 Diet
The Whole 30 diet is a month-long nutrition reset that eliminates sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy from your diet.
You may be wondering if Yerba Mate is Whole 30 compliant?
Yes, Yerba Mate is Whole 30 compliant because it’s made from dried leaves and does not contain any of the disallowed foods on the Whole 30 diets list of no-goes.
Fasting and Yerba Mate in Conclusion
So there you have it! Yerba mate does break your fast, but there are plenty of alternative drinks that you can enjoy while intermittent fasting. Just be sure to avoid any drinks that contain caffeine.
If you have experience with Yerba Mate not breaking your fast or have some more ideas on alternatives please reach out in the comments below.
Happy intermittent fasting!
A self-proclaimed foodie, Tess loves to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen.
When she's not cooking up a storm, Tess enjoys hiking and skiing in the beautiful Colorado mountains.
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