Osteoporosis affects 4 out of every 10 women in the United States. That’s nearly half! In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases including diabetes, myocardial infarction, and breast cancer.
But aging does not require that you lose your bone mass and end up having a slumped posture, and hip replacement after the age of 50.
Researchers at the National University of Cuyo, in Mendoza, Argentina, measured effects of Yerba Maté as part of a program for osteoporosis prevention and treatment in postmenopausal women.
The study involved 146 postmenopausal women who drank at least 1 liter of Yerba Maté daily for at least 4 years who were compared to a matched group of women who did not drink Yerba Maté.
The results showed that Yerba Maté drinkers had a significant 10% higher lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD). Drinkers also had a significant 6% higher femoral neck BMD.
Yerba Maté drinking was the only factor, other than body mass index (BMI), which showed a significant positive correlation with BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck.
I know this to be true, firsthand. A few years ago, I was out for an evening rollerblading session. I inadvertently went up a hill and as I was coming down the other side, ran into a large puddle of water from a recent rain.
I tried to avoid the puddle but my feet went out from under me and I went flying. I came down hard on my hip and shoulder. At 50 years of age, I thought “Uh-oh, I’m in trouble.” But, I gathered myself together, jumped up and skated back to my car – it was a good mile away. I was bleeding, but I had not a single broken bone.
I have no doubt that I owe much of the health of my bones to Yerba Maté and, as always, I find myself very grateful for my journey with this beverage. I’m continuously discovering why the Guarani Indians call it the Drink of the Gods! And you can, too!
Yours In Health! Rachel Winkler, Owner Oregon Yerba Maté
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