Matcha is a trendy beverage that has amazing health benefits. Matcha, a green tea, is being praised by leading nutritionists, researchers, and celebrities who are health-conscious. For hundreds of years, matcha has been a traditional part of Japanese tea ceremonies.
Matcha is a cancer fighter and a fat burner. Numerous studies have actually shown that matcha contains chemical compounds that can help induce cancer cell death, neutralize free radicals, and improve your body’s natural detoxification system.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha, a powdered green tea concentrate, has been popular for centuries in Japan and China. Matcha and its pronunciation (maah-chuh), are actually Japanese words that mean “ground” or “tea.”
Matcha is made with Camellia sinensis tea leaves, an evergreen shrub belonging to the Theaceae family. This plant is the source of all tea, however, there are differences in the way it’s processed.
Matcha-specific tea plants are shaded for up to two weeks before being picked. This is to increase the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves. The green tea leaves are dried after harvest and boiled to make a fine powder.
Matcha, unlike other teas, contains all the tea leaves. This provides a concentrated source of nutrients. Matcha has a distinct, strong flavor that many people compare to wheatgrass or spinach.
Matcha tea’s extraordinary strength comes from its polyphenol compounds, called catechins. These are an antioxidant found in superfoods such as green tea, cocoa, and apples.
Matcha Tea Benefits
Matcha tea is valued for its higher levels of catechins than other foods. Regular drinkers enjoy the health benefits. There are many benefits to matcha tea, including improved heart health and lower blood sugar levels.
May Prevent Cancer
Green tea intake has been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Matcha has been shown beneficial for the following cancers:
- Bladder cancer: A study of 882 women found that women who ate matcha had a significantly lower risk of developing it.
- Breast Cancer: A meta-analysis of multiple observational studies showed that women who consumed the greenest tea had a 22% lower chance of developing it.
- Rectal and colon cancers: A study of 69.710 Chinese women between 40-70 years old showed that those who drink green tea have a 57% lower chance of developing colorectal cancer. Rectal cancer is also associated with regular tea consumption.
- Prostate Cancer: A large study has shown that Japanese men who drink five to more cups of green tea daily have a 48 percent lower chance of getting prostate cancer.
Promotes Weight Loss
Numerous promising studies have shown that matcha tea can help you lose weight. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that drinking tea high in catechins over 12 weeks resulted in significant weight loss, body mass, and body weight reductions, compared to a group of control participants.
A review from the Netherlands also found that matcha and green tea contain catechins, which could be used to reduce weight and maintain it. Research has also shown that matcha may increase metabolism and fat-burning, which could help with long-term weight loss.
Benefits of Exercise Performance
Matcha green tea may speed up muscle recovery for athletes who are focusing on high-intensity training like burst training, according to clinical tests. It also reverses cellular damage from oxidative stress. This could prevent tissue and muscle damage.
A study in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology showed that EGCG administration of mice suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome reduced markers of oxidative and/or inflammation. Other studies have shown that green tea can be paired with physical activity to increase energy expenditure, fat-burning, endurance, and decrease muscle damage.
Best Food Source for Disease-Fighting Catechins
Harvard Medical School published a paper stating that green tea is one the most potent food sources for a group known as catechins. Catechins may be more effective than vitamins C and E at stopping oxidative damage to cells. Studies have shown that catechins, an antioxidant, play a crucial role in both health and disease. They could also help prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Matcha tea has a significantly higher level of catechins than regular green tea. This is also supported by research. Researchers at the University of Colorado found that matcha’s EGCG concentration was 137 times higher than that of China Green Tips green tea and at least three times greater than that of other green teas.
Alert Calm with High Levels of L-Theanine
Matcha, which is a powerful combination of L.-theanine (caffeine) and Matcha, can induce an “alert calm” feeling. L-theanine, an amino acid found in Camellia sinensis teas, is naturally found in teas. Matcha green tea can raise levels of L-theanine, promote alpha waves, and lead to relaxed alertness.
L-theanine can also increase brain levels of dopamine, GABA, and other neurotransmitters. This could be beneficial for anxiety disorders. Matcha tea can contain as much as five times the amount of L-theanine due to its growing conditions.
Lowers Your Risk of Hypertension and Heart Disease
Green tea is high in antioxidants and catechins. Some studies suggest that it may lower the risk of developing heart disease. A study of over 40,000 people revealed that people who consumed more than five cups of green tea daily had a 26 percent lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke than those who consumed less than one cup. Studies have shown that green tea can lower cholesterol and help prevent heart disease.
Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
It is possible to avoid type 2 diabetes by making some healthy lifestyle and dietary changes. Some research has suggested that matcha may be particularly beneficial. One study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that green tea consumption was associated with lower rates of diabetes, after accounting for age, gender, and other risk factors.
A second study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that green tea consumption reduced blood sugar levels and helped with long-term sugar control. Green tea was also found to significantly reduce insulin levels.
The Body Can Be Detoxified
Matcha’s deep green color is due to its high levels of chlorophyll. Plant pigment chlorophyll absorbs light during photosynthesis to create energy. Matcha’s shade-grown nature makes it much richer in chlorophyll than other teas. Chlorophyll gives matcha its vibrant color. It also helps with detoxification. Matcha tea can be a great way to support your body’s natural ability to detoxify. It is also a great way to increase your intake of chlorophyll.
Where to Buy
Matcha tea is gaining popularity and there are many places to purchase it. These include local grocery stores, health food stores, coffee shops, and online retailers. Matcha powder is not all created equal. Here are some quick tips to help you get the best matcha powder and the best bang for your buck.
- Look for matcha powders that contain matcha only on the ingredients label.
- If possible, choose organic and non-GMO varieties.
- Ceremonial-grade Matcha is best for making well-teased tea.
- While culinary grade can be used to make lattes, teas, and baked goods, it can also be used in the preparation of teas, lattes, and smoothies.
- Matcha can be purchased in tea bags, but you won’t be drinking the entire leaf.
- Matcha quality and purity come at a price. A low price can indicate a low-quality product.
- While Chinese matcha may be cheaper than Japanese matcha, it could contain more pesticides and contaminants.
- Matcha powder can be used in tea. However, matcha tea is made in a unique way.
Matcha Recipes
Although the directions can be different, here’s one simple way to make matcha tea correctly.
1. Heat water in a kettle until it reaches boiling point.
2. Pour hot water into a matcha cup or bowl and let it cool.
3. Toss 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into a cup or bowl.
4. Add 2 ounces of almost boiled water.
5. Use a tea brush or bamboo brush to whisk the water and powder together. Whisk for about a minute until it becomes thick and fluffy with small bubbles.
6. You can add 3-4 ounces more water.
This versatile ingredient can be used to make tea as well as other food such matcha ice cream and smoothie bowls. It also makes baked goods such brownies, cake, and cookies.
Matcha vs. Green Tea
Many people are curious about matcha’s caffeine content. Matcha’s caffeine content is one of the most significant differences from green tea. Matcha green tea has a higher caffeine content than any other green tea because it contains every leaf of the tea plant. It is much higher in caffeine than regular green tea, but it still has around 70 mg of caffeine per cup.
Matcha green tea powder is not a good choice for those who are sensitive to caffeine. It can give you a more balanced, alert feeling because it contains high levels of L-theanine. However, it is best to avoid drinking it before bed if you are having trouble sleeping.
Side Effects and Risks
It is not recommended for pregnant women or children due to its caffeine content. Green tea can cause nausea and stomach pain if consumed empty stomach. Drink it with food, especially if you have acid reflux or peptic ulcers. It is important to know that green tea can decrease iron absorption from foods if you suffer from iron deficiency.
Matcha can be contaminated by lead, so buying organic does not always guarantee purity. While buying matcha from Japan rather than China can reduce the chance of lead exposure, it is best to limit your consumption to one cup per day. Green tea may interact with prescription drugs. If you are on medication or have ongoing health concerns, consult your doctor before you consume matcha.
Last Thoughts
- What is matcha? Matcha is a powdered form of green tea that is made from the whole leaf.
- It is thought that tea has higher levels of beneficial compounds such as catechins and antioxidants because of how it is made.
- What is matcha tea like? Matcha tea has an earthy, strong flavor and is often compared with wheatgrass or spinach.
- Matcha tea may help you lose weight, improve your heart health, lower blood sugar, better detoxification, protect against certain cancers, and increase your sense of calm.
- Matcha green tea has many health benefits. There are many ways to prepare this delicious ingredient. To increase the antioxidant content, you can make matcha green tea by blending the powder with water.
