Thanks Ann... as I sit here with my yerba mate unsmoked type tea in my
giant Sylvester WB mug! LOL

Antioxidants are very important, and much is being published about them now.

Just for the record, the yerba mate did this for me:
1) improved my night vision (this was within days) since I drive late at night

2) improved my gall bladder functions (increases bile flow) and my right back pain is gone. (after one month)-- I had had screening for gall stones, which came back negative. The pain was very disabling and distracting..but it is gone now.

3) faded my hideous varicose veins in my right leg more than 80%. The color is all gone, with just a couple of bumps left--- after 3 months

Basically I think that the improvement in vascular health is quite important, and if I can SEE these veins fade away..imagine what is happening elsewhere? Improved vascular health we could all use.

I also use the Green Tea by Lipton, for taking to work etc.

I find the Yerba Mate milder in caffeine effects tho. Too much Green Tea makes me jittery. There are decaffeinated green tea bags out there however, for brewing yourself, if caffeine is a problem for you.

If you do Yerba Mate, I suggest the green unsmoked varieties. The older smoked ones are treated to "smoking" which introduces free radicals, which we do not need. The newer varieties are unsmoked and say so on the box.
(EcoTeas makes one, which is the one I use).
You can learn more about yerba mate at www.yerbamate.com