Do you know what is Chimarrão? At a Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, you might saw some Brazilians walking and drinking around a mug full of green herb that looks like weed. It’s erva mate and that does not make you high. My students probably saw me drinking chimarrão at my gym especially before training. It’s a very popular drink in the south states of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay. Mate, has tons of health benefits. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, it can boost energy and improve mental focus. It has 85mg of caffeine per cup. Less than a coffee but more than a cup of tea. It can help you lose weight and improve your performance on the mats, erva mate increases the reliance on fat for fuel during exercise. It may also improve muscle contractions and reduce fatigue, all of which may contribute to better physical performance. It's not very hard to find mate in the US. Many groceries stores are selling this drink in cans but the problem is the amount of sugar or artificial flavors, don't forget to look the ingredients.
