Guayusa, Yerba Mate, GLP-1, Blood Glucose, & Metabolic Disorder
Most people have heard of yerba mate, but guayusa is a lesser known cousin of yerba that is quickly gaining popularity in both the tea drinker and research world.
Illex Guayusa is a holly tree that’s native to the Amazon Rainforest.
People are often surprised to learn that guayusa has as much or sometimes more caffeine per dry weight as coffee. Not only does it have massive amounts of caffeine, it also has some other stimulants like theobromine which is famously found in cacao.
In my experience, the combination of these two powerful compounds makes for an exhilarating brew that distinct from the feeling of traditional tea or coffee alone. It’s like a magical super powerful jungle energy drink, without gross additives or gross shaky feelings.
The basic health benefits of guayusa tea:
Strong Anti-Oxidant Activity
Anti-Inflammatory
Neuroprotective
Very Strong Anti-Diabetic Activity
Very Strong Anti-Obese Activity
Cardiovascular Protective Activity
Possibly Anti Cancer
Compounds found in Guayusa:
Caffeine
Theobromine
Catechins
L-Theanine
Gallic Acid
Guanidine
Isobutryic Acid
Nicotinic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
Riboflavin
Choline
Pyridoxine
Triterpenes
Chlorogenic Acid
Quercetin
Products that we make containing guayusa:
https://www.tundratonics.com/tundra-tonics-store/p/tundra-day-cbd-tea-guayusa-yaupon-rose-hips-schisandra-berry-and-more
https://www.tundratonics.com/tundra-tonics-store/p/yerba-mate-guayusa-yaupon-herbal-green-tea-blend-organic-loose-leaf-tea
Probably the number one most amazing benefit in my mind is guayusa (and other Illexes’) ability to increase the release of something in our bodies called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1).
These are just some of the type-2 diabetes medications that people take to increase GLP-1:
Amaryl.
Avandia.
Bydureon.
Byetta.
Corticosteroids.
Eylea.
Forxiga.
This is really wonderful case of having a safe and effective version of these drugs in a natural, and in my opinion quite enjoyable form.
Scientific Research about Guayusa (and other Illexes, yerba mate etc):
A critical review of the composition and history of safe use of guayusa: a stimulant and antioxidant novel food
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31366209/
Due to rapid international market development, there is a strong and urgent need to assess the safety of the novel food, Ilex guayusa. Guayusa has been consumed for centuries in the western Amazon as an herbal tea, and novel food regulation provide a detailed framework for safety assessment of novel foods with such a history of use. This study reviews guayusa's taxonomy, chemical composition, toxicology, ethnobotany, and history of safe use as key elements of a robust novel food safety assessment. Guayusa is a product of traditional agricultural systems with a continuous history of consumption in Ecuador. Its known chemical composition appears to present no greater risk to human health than existing teas such as green tea or yerba mate, although our understanding of guayusa's chemical profile is still nascent, requiring further investigation. Broad consumption of guayusa is not associated with a history of adverse effects or product safety notifications. Biochemical and phytochemical studies have profiled its nutritional content, metabolite composition, and bioactivity, validating guayusa's antioxidant and stimulant properties. In conclusion, guayusa leaves have a well-documented chemical composition and history of safe use, which are key considerations for authorization as a novel food in the EU.
Health Benefits of Bioactive Compounds from the Genus Ilex, a Source of Traditional Caffeinated Beverages
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6265843/
“Tea and coffee are caffeinated beverages commonly consumed around the world in daily life. Tea from Camellia sinensis is widely available and is a good source of caffeine and other bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols and carotenoids). Other tea-like beverages, such as those from the genus Ilex, the large-leaved Kudingcha (Ilex latifolia Thunb and Ilex kudingcha C.J. Tseng), Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil), Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria), and Guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes) are also traditional drinks, with lesser overall usage, but have attracted much recent attention and have been subjected to further study. This review summarizes the distribution, composition, and health benefits of caffeinated beverages from the genus Ilex. Plants of this genus mainly contain polyphenols and alkaloids, and show diverse health benefits, which, as well as supporting their further popularization as beverages, may also lead to potential applications in the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical industries.
Several in vitro, in vivo, and human studies have reported the lipid-lowering benefits of the extract of I. paraguariensis. The inhibited accumulation of triglycerides in HepG2 cells and attenuated blood lipid levels were demonstrated in I. latifolia aqueous extracts. Besides, N-butanolic fraction (n-BFIP), a standardized fraction rich in phenolic compounds derived from Yerba Mate was also shown to reduce triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in high-fat-diet induced (HFD) rats by 30% and 26%, respectively. This was consistent with the conclusion that polyphenols and methylxanthines in Yerba Mate showed higher lipid-reducing activity than saponins. In addition, the lipid-reducing effect of Yerba Mate extract was proven to be effective not only in animal models, such as hyperlipidemic hamster model, rats, and rabbits, but also in humans. Dyslipidemic and normolipidemic subjects supplemented with 50 g (330 mL infusion and 3 times/day) Yerba Mate had about 10% reduction in lipid parameters (LDL-C and TG).”
Catechins and Their Therapeutic Benefits to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6155401/
“Catechins are natural polyphenolic phytochemicals that exist in food and medicinal plants, such as tea, legume and rubiaceae. An increasing number of studies have associated the intake of catechins-rich foods with the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases in humans, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some studies have demonstrated that catechins could significantly inhibit the excessive oxidative stress through direct or indirect antioxidant effects and promote the activation of the antioxidative substances such as glutathione peroxidases (GPO) and glutathione (GSH), reducing the oxidative damages to the colon. In addition, catechins can also regulate the infiltration and proliferation of immune related-cells, such as neutrophils, colonic epithelial cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes, helping reduce the inflammatory relations and provide benefits to IBD. Perhaps catechins can further inhibit the deterioration of intestinal lesions through regulating the cell gap junctions. Furthermore, catechins can exert their significant anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the activation or deactivation of inflammation-related oxidative stress-related cell signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), signal transducer and the activator of transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3) pathways. Finally, catechins can also stabilize the structure of the gastrointestinal micro-ecological environment via promoting the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria and regulating the balance of intestinal flora, so as to relieve the IBD. Furthermore, catechins may regulate the tight junctions (TJ) in the epithelium. This paper elaborates the currently known possible molecular mechanisms of catechins in favor of IBD.”
Tea catechins and polyphenols: health effects, metabolism, and antioxidant functions
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12587987/
Increasing interest in the health benefits of tea has led to the inclusion of tea extracts in dietary supplements and functional foods. However, epidemiologic evidence regarding the effects of tea consumption on cancer and cardiovascular disease risk is conflicting. While tea contains a number of bioactive chemicals, it is particularly rich in catechins, of which epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant. Catechins and their derivatives are thought to contribute to the beneficial effects ascribed to tea. Tea catechins and polyphenols are effective scavengers of reactive oxygen species in vitro and may also function indirectly as antioxidants through their effects on transcription factors and enzyme activities. The fact that catechins are rapidly and extensively metabolized emphasizes the importance of demonstrating their antioxidant activity in vivo. In humans, modest transient increases in plasma antioxidant capacity have been demonstrated following the consumption of tea and green tea catechins. The effects of tea and green tea catechins on biomarkers of oxidative stress, especially oxidative DNA damage, appear very promising in animal models, but data on biomarkers of in vivo oxidative stress in humans are limited. Larger human studies examining the effects of tea and tea catechin intake on biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA are needed.
Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2743711/
Twelve plants used for the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in northern Europe were studied using normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice to evaluate effects on glucose homeostasis. The plants were administered in the diet (6.25% by weight) and/or as decoctions or infusions in place of drinking water, to coincide with the traditional method of preparation. Treatment for 28 days with preparations of burdock (Arctium lappa), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), elder (Sambucus nigra), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), guayusa (Ilex guayusa), hop (Humulus lupulus), nettle (Urtica dioica), cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), sage (Salvia officinale), and wild carrot (Daucus carrota) did not affect the parameters of glucose homeostasis examined in normal mice (basal plasma glucose and insulin, glucose tolerance, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and glycated haemoglobin). After administration of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg) burdock and nettle aggravated the diabetic condition, while cashew, dandelion, elder, fenugreek, hop, periwinkle, sage and wild carrot did not significantly affect the parameters of glucose homeostasis studied (basal glucose and insulin, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, glycated haemoglobin and pancreatic insulin concentration). Guayusa and mushroom retarded the development of hyperglycaemia in streptozotocin diabetes and reduced the hyperphagia, polydipsia, body weight loss, and glycated haemoglobin. Mushroom also countered the initial reduction in plasma insulin and the reduction in pancreatic insulin concentration, and improved the hypoglycaemic effect of exogenous insulin. These studies suggest the presence of potentially useful antidiabetic agents in guayusa and mushroom.
Bioactive triterpenoids from the caffeine-rich plants guayusa and maté
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996918307920?via%3Dihub
Unlike all other caffeinated plants, guayusa (Ilex guayusa Loes.) and maté (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hill) contain high amounts of pentacyclic triterpenoid acids and alcohols. A phytochemical investigation on these plants revealed a similar triterpenoid profile and a content of ursolic acid (0.7–1%) and amyrin esters (up to 0.5%), quite unusual for dietary plants. The major constituent of the amyrin complex from both plants is α-amyrin palmitate (2a), accompanied by lower amounts of its corresponding palmitoleate (2b) and by the corresponding constitutional isomers from the β-series (3a and 3b, respectively). Ursolic acid (1) was identified as the responsible for the activity of maté and guayusa extracts in the activation of TGR5, a nuclear receptor of relevance for the prevention and management of diabetes and metabolic syndrome because of its involvement in the regulation of energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity.
Mate Tea (Ilex paraguariensis) Promotes Satiety and Body Weight Lowering in Mice: Involvement of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51842833_Mate_Tea_Ilex_paraguariensis_Promotes_Satiety_and_Body_Weight_Lowering_in_Mice_Involvement_of_Glucagon-Like_Peptide-1
We previously investigated the effects of an aqueous extract of maté (mate) tea, made from the leaves of Ilex paraguariensis, on the diabesity and metabolic syndrome features in a mouse model. Mate induced significant decreases in body weight (BW), body mass index, and food intake (FI). In this study, to verify the mode of action of mate on FI and consequently on BW, we examined the anorexic effects of mate on the appetite and satiety markers glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and leptin in high-fat diet-fed ddY mice. GLP-1 is a peptide signal generated by the gastrointestinal tract, which regulates appetite and influences BW, whereas leptin is an afferent signal from the periphery to the brain in a homeostatic feedback loop that regulates adipose tissue mass, thus leading to decreased appetite and FI and increased energy expenditure. Chronic administration of mate (50, 100 mg/kg) for 3 weeks significantly reduced FI, BW, and ameliorated blood fats, liver fats, and adipose tissue. Mate induced significant increases in GLP-1 levels and leptin levels compared with the control. Acute administration of major constituents of mate showed significant increases in GLP-1 levels by dicaffeoyl quinic acids and matesaponins, and significant induction of satiety by caffeoyl quinic acids and caffeine in ddY mice. These findings suggest that mate may induce anorexic effects by direct induction of satiety and by stimulation of GLP-1 secretion and modulation of serum leptin levels.
Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Application of Glucagon-like Peptide-1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29617641/
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) released from gut enteroendocrine cells controls meal-related glycemic excursions through augmentation of insulin and inhibition of glucagon secretion. GLP-1 also inhibits gastric emptying and food intake, actions maximizing nutrient absorption while limiting weight gain. Here I review the circuits engaged by endogenous versus pharmacological GLP-1 action, highlighting key GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R)-positive cell types and pathways transducing metabolic and non-glycemic GLP-1 signals. The role(s) of GLP-1 in the benefits and side effects associated with bariatric surgery are discussed and actions of GLP-1 controlling islet function, appetite, inflammation, and cardiovascular pathophysiology are highlighted. Refinement of the risk-versus-benefit profile of GLP-1-based therapies for the treatment of diabetes and obesity has stimulated development of orally bioavailable agonists, allosteric modulators, and unimolecular multi-agonists, all targeting the GLP-1R. This review highlights established and emerging concepts, unanswered questions, and future challenges for development and optimization of GLP-1R agonists in the treatment of metabolic disease.
Recent advances in understanding the role of glucagon-like peptide 1
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32269764/
The discovery that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) mediates a significant proportion of the incretin effect during the postprandial period and the subsequent observation that GLP-1 bioactivity is retained in type 2 diabetes (T2D) led to new therapeutic strategies being developed for T2D treatment based on GLP-1 action. Although owing to its short half-life exogenous GLP-1 has no use therapeutically, GLP-1 mimetics, which have a much longer half-life than native GLP-1, have proven to be effective for T2D treatment since they prolong the incretin effect in patients. These GLP-1 mimetics are a desirable therapeutic option for T2D since they do not provoke hypoglycaemia or weight gain and have simple modes of administration and monitoring. Additionally, over more recent years, GLP-1 action has been found to mediate systemic physiological beneficial effects and this has high clinical relevance due to the post-diagnosis complications of T2D. Indeed, recent studies have found that certain GLP-1 analogue therapies improve the cardiovascular outcomes for people with diabetes. Furthermore, GLP-1-based therapies may enable new therapeutic strategies for diseases that can also arise independently of the clinical manifestation of T2D, such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. GLP-1 functions by binding to its receptor (GLP-1R), which expresses mainly in pancreatic islet beta cells. A better understanding of the mechanisms and signalling pathways by which acute and chronic GLP-1R activation alleviates disease phenotypes and induces desirable physiological responses during healthy conditions will likely lead to the development of new therapeutic GLP-1 mimetic-based therapies, which improve prognosis to a greater extent than current therapies for an array of diseases.
More than just caffeine: psychopharmacology of methylxanthine interactions with plant-derived phytochemicals
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584618301726
In general, preparations of coffee, teas, and cocoa containing high levels of polyphenols, L-theanine and other bioactive compounds selectively enhance mood and cognition effects of caffeine. This review summarizes the bioactive components of commonly consumed natural caffeine sources (e.g. guayusa, mate and camellia teas, coffee and cocoa) and analyzes the psychopharmacology of constituent phytochemicals: methylxanthines, polyphenols, and L-theanine. Acute and chronic synergistic effects of these compounds on mood and cognition are compared and discussed. Specific sets of constituent compounds such as polyphenols, theobromine and L-theanine appear to enhance mood and cognition effects of caffeine and alleviate negative psychophysiological effects of caffeine. However, more research is needed to identify optimal combinations and ratios of caffeine and phytochemicals for enhancement of cognitive performance.
I hope that this has served to educate you about the qualities and health benefits of guayusa tea. As always, the above is for informational purposes only. We cannot claim to prevent, treat, or cure any disease.
