Matcha is a green tea powder packed with antioxidants and many other powerful amino acids that have tremendous health benefits. Matcha’s health benefits, which have been scientifically proven, include giving you more energy, helping to boost weight loss, as well as improve your concentration and mood! Learn more about matcha’s health benefits and easy ways you can use matcha to benefit your health.
WHAT IS MATCHA?
The word “matcha” actually translates quite simply to “powdered tea.” But matcha is a lot more than that! Matcha is a type of green tea made from shade grown tea leaves that are ground into a fine powder. This makes matcha different from regular tea, in which the liquid itself is free of leaves and most residue. With matcha, we are drinking the nutrient rich leaves, which not only have a delicious earthy, grassy flavor but they contain lots of health benefits!
Drinking matcha tea has been a common practice for thousands of years in the Far East, used for promoting a calming zen like feeling as well as other healing qualities. Traditionally, matcha tea is made by using a bamboo whisk to mix the matcha powder directly with hot water to make a warm, soothing beverage. Today matcha green tea is used for making matcha teas and lattes, as well as in baked goods or other recipes.
THE BENEFITS OF MATCHA GREEN TEA
Matcha green tea has been used for centuries for its healing and healthful properties. From helping to destress to giving you a balanced energy, matcha’s benefits come from its unique nutritional profile that provides high amounts of antioxidants including the catechin EGCG, and the amino acid L-theonine. Here are some matcha health benefits:
Matcha provides the ultimate ENERGY BOOST WITHOUT THE JITTERS
Matcha contains caffeine, but drinking matcha does not give you the same physical caffeine spike and then crash that comes from drinking coffee. Matcha provides sustained energy – more of a mental energy boost – throughout the day…with no crash and no physical jitters. This is because matcha contains L-theanine, a special amino acid, which helps to relax you without drowsiness. So matcha has a seemingly magical ability to give an energy boost without the jitters or a mid-afternoon crash. Try matcha as a healthier substitute for coffee-no more caffeine rush.
Drinking matcha can BOOST BRAIN FUNCTION and improve FOCUS
The brain boosting health benefits of matcha are pretty amazing. People often report that drinking matcha leaves them feeling alert, but also calm and collected thanks to matcha’s combination of caffeine and L-theanine. Matcha also has cognitive health benefits that can help people of all ages. A great health benefit of matcha is that it can help you be more focused and alert. And the L-theanine in matcha is responsible for producing dopamine and serotonin, which are chemicals that can enhance your memory and help you concentrate.
The calm energy synergy created by caffeine and L-theanine makes matcha a perfect drink to help you study for an exam, relax on a Sunday or cool down after (or before) work! The effects can last as long as six hours, so take that into account before bedtime!
Discover the ZEN of matcha and IMPROVE YOUR MOOD
There’s a special zen of matcha that releases happy compounds throughout your bloodstream leaving you feel less anxious and happier! The L-theanine in matcha naturally reduces stress and anxiety and enhances mood by increasing both your brain’s dopamine and GABA levels. So, next time you are feeling down, make yourself a nice cup of matcha tea for a natural way to feel relaxed and less stressed.
Matcha can BOOST METABOLISM and helps you burn calories
Yes, drinking or eating more matcha green tea can be your most powerful tool for both losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Green tea is known for its ability to give your metabolism that extra kick. Studies have shown that a matcha health benefit is that green tea may help in stimulating the metabolism, thereby helping to promote fat burning and weight loss. Much of this benefit comes from the polyphenol EGCG which is found in high concentrations in matcha. Make sure to include matcha into your daily diet to help rev up your metabolism and keep you looking and feeling fabulous!
Matcha is rich in ANTIOXIDANTS
Think about all those superfoods you thought were packed with antioxidants… blueberries, pomegranate and the lovely goji berries. Guess what? Matcha beats them all! Matcha is loaded with antioxidants called catechins which have lots of benefits including helping to regulate blood sugar, lower cholesterol, as well as boost our immune system. Antioxidants are known for their ability to stabilize free radicals, which are compounds that damage our cells and can increase our chances of chronic disease.
Matcha contains high amounts of the antioxidant EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), so even one cup of matcha tea gives you a strong dose of antioxidants, helping to make your body stronger and healthier. In fact, according to the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) which measures the antioxidants in certain foods, matcha green tea measures at a whopping 1384 units per gram. High ORAC foods can help protect cells from the damaging, aging effects of oxidative damage. So the more high ORAC foods we eat like matcha, the more we are protecting our bodies from diseases caused by free radicals, including chronic disease, heart disease and cancer!
Matcha may help in FIGHTING INFECTIONS and CANCER
This is thanks to the aforementioned EGCG and other catechins found in matcha. Drinking matcha helps fight and prevent the damaging effects of free radicals that come from everyday life, including radiation and UV rays. And the polyphenols in matcha have shown promise in preventing the spreading of cancerous cells as well as being helpful in reducing the risk of some cancers.
ECGC and the catechins in matcha also have antimicrobial properties that can help prevent both infections as well as the spreading of infections, including various fungal, bacterial or viral infections. Drinking matcha to protect against infections sounds a lot better than taking prescription medicine-bring on the matcha!
Matcha can turn your body into a DETOX machine
There’s no better feeling than the lightness and alertness after a good detox. Matcha is particularly rich in a polyphenol called chlorophyll, which is responsible for its green color and is also known for its detoxifying abilities. In fact, drinking matcha can naturally cleanse and eliminate toxins, harmful chemicals and heavy metals from the body.
HOW TO GET YOUR DAILY DOSE OF MATCHA
It’s easy to get the health benefits of matcha since it’s so versatile and easy to use. You can whisk it into hot water to make a tea and enjoy as is, or you can also consider incorporating matcha into soups, muffins, baked goods, dips and more! Here are some easy recipes to try with matcha
Try these classic drinks that incorporate matcha:
Make Matcha Tea or Latte
Avocado Matcha Breakfast Smoothie Bowl
Everyday Matcha Collagen Drink
Add matcha to baked goods or desserts for a nutritional superboost!
Raw Vegan Matcha Cheesecake
Keto Matcha Superfood Ice Cream
Matcha and Oats Blender Pancakes
TRY USING FURTHER FOOD’S MINDFUL MATCHA
–sourced from organic matcha green tea from Japan
-USDA Organic Certified
-Boosted with powerful adaptogens including organic wheatgrass, organic ginger, organic ashwagandha, organic cordyceps mushroom
-sugar free, non-GMO, dairy free, paleo and keto friendly
-mixes easily into hot water or milk for a matcha tea
-can be added to smoothies, baked goods, desserts for a delicious superboost!
BUY HERE
Summary:
- Matcha is a specially-grown green tea leaf that has been ground into a powder form. The word “matcha” actually translates quite plainly to “powdered tea.”
- Matcha has been scientifically researched and showth to have many powerful health benefits
- Matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine, which naturally reduces stress and anxiety and enhances mood by increasing both your brain’s dopamine and GABA levels
- L-theanine can also help improve memory and concentration
- Matcha is loaded with antioxidants such as EGCG that provide a variety of health benefits such as helping to boost the immune system, regulate blood sugar levels, and prevent against chronic illness
- Matcha may even help prevent cancer and help prevent infections
- Matcha can help cleanse the body of toxins, harmful chemicals and heavy metals because it contains chlorophyll, a natural detoxifier
- Matcha is easy to use and can be incorporated into drinks, smoothies and baked goods
REFERENCES:
- http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/Features/Pages/l-theanine-pro-con.aspx
- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/tea-fact-sheet
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25191312
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/brewing-evidence-for-teas-heart-benefits
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16296404
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3679539/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21040626
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28784536
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25761837
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12682270/
- https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/1999/high-orac-foods-may-slow-aging/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18636681
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27747873
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28942440
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22127270
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18681988
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21736785
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19597519
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27562352
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26577614
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26836279
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29024813
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26773777
- http://circheartfailure.ahajournals.org/content/early/2012/06/26/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.112.967299
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28077466
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22581111
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16188420
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14518774
Tell us what you think!