CAFFEINE, YERBA MATE & HEALTH More than 90% of the world's adult population consumes caffeine daily- as it has known benefits for increasing alertness, focus, and physical performance (both endurance and strength output). I'm 48 years old, and I started consuming caffeine in the form of Yerba Mate when I was three years old (per the photo above). I'm half Argentine. I don't recommend children younger than 12 consume caffeine. That said, yerba maté is still my preferred source of caffeine. The energy and focus tend to be more sustained than from coffee or energy drinks. I also enjoy black coffee and espresso in small amounts early in the day. Yerba maté is also great because it contains antioxidants and is thought to increase the natural release of GLP1 (a mild appetite suppressant), and when consumed after a meal, it also improves digestion. There is limited (but interesting) evidence that daily consumption may improve bone density, but more data are needed. I like brewing the loose-leaf Yerba maté, and I avoid sugary canned or bottled varieties. After years of trying them all, in my opinion, the best tasting and highest quality Yerba is from @mateina — so much so that I decided to become an owner of the company. They have low-sugar varieties, but I like zero sugar, so I helped them formulate a cold brew, zero-sugar canned Yerba Mate with a small amount of lemon and organic ginger juice. It's super delicious, and I confess I now drink 2 to 3 of these every morning. I simply love it. I'll often drink one in the afternoon, around 2-3 pm, and it does not disrupt my sleep architecture. I go to sleep at ~10 pm most nights. Regardless of where you get it, I encourage anyone who drinks caffeine to try a non-smoked, zero-sugar Yerba Mate hot or cold brew to see if it's right for you. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, including any questions, and as always, thank you for your interest in science!