1 comment · Apr 23, 2019

5 Reasons Why You Should Drink Matcha

Many of us wonder whether calling matcha an elixir for life is a myth or does it really have “magical healing” properties?

Over the past few years, many researchers have taken up the responsibility to scientifically prove this special beverage to improve the health of one's heart, brain, and overall body. However, it's important to answer one critical question.

WHAT IS MATCHA?

Matcha is the most premium variety of shade-grown Japanese green tea leaves which are stone ground into a fine powder. For centuries, monks have enjoyed matcha to support well-being and concentration during meditation, and samurai warriors before battle to help them stay calm and alert.

Unlike regular green tea, matcha is shade grown 20-30 days before it is harvested. This process not only increases the amino acid content of the tea, but also the chlorophyll content which gives matcha its bright green colour.

The special manufacturing process ensures that just 1 cup of matcha is packed with antioxidants that is equivalent to 10 cups of normal green tea.

Apart from antioxidants, this delicious tea is rich in vitamins including A, E, K, C, and B-complex. It also contains trace minerals such as chromium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Moreover, matcha has a generous amount of a special yet rare amino acid called L-theanine.

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFITS: 5 REASONS YOU NEED THIS SUPERTEA

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFIT #1 - PROMOTES A HEALTHY HEART

Matcha has one of the highest antioxidant ratings. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value is 1348 units per gram. That’s 13x the antioxidants in pomegranates and 15x the antioxidants in blueberries.

It's rich in a potent antioxidant called EGCG, containing more than 137 times EGCG present in China Tips green tea and almost 3 times the level of other varieties. EGCG has anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties. Thus, consuming EGCG in moderation can also help lower the level of LDL cholesterol and maintain blood sugar. (1) (2)

Consequently, the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke can be reduced by almost 26% by consuming more than 5 cups of green tea per day as compared with adults who consume less than 1 cup per day. (3) (4)

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFIT #2 - FOOD FOR BRAIN

Matcha is a great source of L-theanine. The L-theanine in matcha has anti-anxiolytic properties that are highly beneficial for mental health.

The combination of caffeine, polyphenols, flavonoids, phytonutrients, antioxidants and amino acids found in matcha produces a boost in alpha brain wave production, which encourages relaxation, increases mental clarity, improves cognitive ability, and enhanced mood without inducing drowsiness. (5) (6)(7)

Unlike the caffeine in coffee, which is quickly released into the bloodstream, the caffeine in matcha is slowly released. This is because the caffeine molecules in matcha bind to the catechins. As the catechins break down, caffeine enters the bloodstream slowly over a 6-8 hour period.

This mitigates any usual side effects that you may get with caffeine consumption such as a crash, anxiety, jitters or headaches. Just smooth energy and focus.

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFIT #3 - IMPROVES ORAL HEALTH

High level of depression and anxiety can result in poor oral health. Drinking matcha has been proven to help relax and meditate without resulting in symptoms of a caffeine crash. This is why matcha intake can lower overall stress levels that can eventually translate into a relatively lower level of cavities, gum diseases, and tooth sensitivity. (9)(10)

Scientific evidence also suggests that the unique composition of green teas can abolish the incidence of bad breath and prevent tooth decay by repressing bacterial growth. (11)(12)(13)

Surprisingly, in case of curing bad breath, green tea has outperformed other products used for bad breath such as parsley-seed oil, chewing gum, and even mints. This explains the reason for using green tea extracts in oral care products.

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFIT #4 - IT'S A POWERFUL CANCER FIGHTER

The abundant levels of antioxidants and chlorophyll help detoxify the blood and support the immune system. This can help our body prevent oxidative stress, which could be responsible for treating illnesses such as mental imbalance, disturbances, anxiety disorder, depression, Alzheimer's and chronic fatigue syndrome. (8)

According to Harvard research, green tea is the best food source of a group of antioxidants known as catechins. Research has shown catechins (such as EGCG) to be more powerful than both vitamins C and E in stopping oxidative damage to cells. They also appear to have other disease-fighting abilities.

It is a proven fact that the natural antioxidants present in the green tea possess significant anti-cancer properties. According to varied researches, green tea can help fight a variety of cancers such as oral, prostate, breast, lung and liver. (14)

Moreover, the research conducted by the University of Salford reveals that matcha's natural compounds can directly help to overcome cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. (17)

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFIT #5 - HELPS AID WITH WEIGHT LOSS

According to research published in the American Journal of Nutrition, matcha has been shown to increase thermogenesis (the rate at which our bodies burn calories) from 8-10% to 35-43%.

A 2005 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants who drank catechin-rich green tea daily dropped almost twice as much weight in 12 weeks as participants who didn't. They also found that the catechins are associated with reduced BMI and waist circumference.

More recent research shows that matcha can enhance fat oxidation during a 30-min brisk walk especially in females. (19)

HOW TO USE MATCHA

One downside to matcha: quality varies a lot, which means the taste and the amount of goodness in the powder can too. This all depends on the region it's from, geographical location, type of leaves used and farming practices.

Luckily, we have spent over 2 years developing the perfect organic blend, so it's packed with all of the right things you need to look and feel great.

Just add 1/2 teaspoon with a splash of water. Mix for 5 seconds, then top up with hot water or milk of your choice.

DITCH YOUR DAILY COFFEE FOR MATCHA FUEL!

BUY NOW

Sources:

1 comment

Paul Jun 01, 2023

EGCG = Epigallocatechin Gallate if anyone was wondering what the letters stood for .