We all know green tea is a powerful drink with many health benefits. Now imagine matcha – the purest and most powerful form of green tea! Let’s take a look at the top health benefits of matcha green tea powder below!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is considered the highest quality, most nutrient dense and purest form of green tea.
Just like green tea, matcha comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. However, it is grown differently which gives it a unique nutrient profile.
Matcha farmers cultivate this superfood by covering their green tea plants 20-30 days before harvest to avoid direct sunlight, and usually only pick mature leaves from the first harvest of the year in spring.
This increases chlorophyll production in the leaves, boosts the amino acid content and gives the tea leaves a darker and more vibrant green hue.
During harvest time, the tea leaves are picked, then the stems and veins removed. After that, the leaves are ground up into fine powder known as matcha green tea powder.
Be sure to only choose ceremonial grade Japanese matcha. This type of matcha is the highest quality and retains all the delicate nutrients such as L-theanine.
Ceremonial grade matcha is a finely milled powder which not only promotes a more exquisite and silkier taste but also promotes increased nutrient absorbability.
Matcha contains a higher amount of antioxidants and caffeine found in green tea, which give it a wide variety of health benefits, from protecting the liver to aiding in weight loss!
Where to Get High Quality Matcha Green Tea Powder
Aiya Authentic Japanese Origin Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea Powder, 30g Tin (1.06 oz.)
Below we shall explore the top 10 health benefits of matcha green tea powder!
Top 10 Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea Powder including Recipes!
1. Rich in Antioxidants
One of the top health benefits of matcha green tea powder is that it is an incredible source of powerful antioxidants known as catechins. Catechins are a class of plant compounds in tea that stabilize oxidative damage-causing free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that steal oxygen from healthy cells in the body to become stable. By doing so, they make the healthy cells unstable and lifeless which leads to oxidative damage and in the long term, can cause chronic disease.
Research (source) shows that mice given matcha supplements reduced free radical damage and enhanced antioxidant activity.
2. Fat Burning
Matcha is a proven fat-burning superfood!
Research shows that taking green tea extract during moderate exercise increased fat burning by 17% (source).
This study says that catechin-rich green tea extract helps in decreasing body fat, body mass index, body fat ratio, body fat mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area (source).
Furthermore, the thermogenic effects of catechins and caffeine in matcha help improve the rate at which stored fat is burned without losing lean muscle.
Matcha also boost metabolisms, curbs appetite and balances blood sugar which help in preventing belly fat and food cravings while supporting better weight management.
Weight Loss Matcha Drink
What you need
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder (where to get it)
- 2 teaspoons raw honey (where to get it)
- Hot water
- 1 cup oat milk (where to get it)
- Ice cubes
- Glass cup (where to get it)
- Milk frother (where to get it) or traditional bamboo whisk (where to get it)
- Stainless steel tea sieve (where to get it)
Directions
- Sift 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder into a glass cup using a sieve
- Add the honey and a little hot water.
- Mix using the milk frother.
- Top with 1 cup oat milk.
- Add ice cubes.
- Enjoy!
3. Supports the Liver
Another one of the amazing benefits of matcha is that it helps support the liver.
The liver is a major body organ in our bodies carrying out various processes such as flushing out toxins, processing nutrients and more.
Research shows that drinking green tea helped protect against liver disease (source).
One study conducted on 80 participants with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease given either a placebo or 500 mg of green tea extract daily for 90 days, showed that after 12 weeks, green tea extract significantly reduced liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels of these enzymes are a marker of liver damage (source).
4. May Promote Heart Health
Drinking green tea has been shown to protect against heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Matcha has a higher concentration of nutrients and antioxidants than green tea which makes it a powerful super store for heart health.
According to research, green tea has been shown to reduce levels of total and bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which elevate heart disease. Green tea also prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol which may prevent heart disease (source 1, source 2, source 3).
5. Boosts Brain Function
Another one of the most exciting health benefits of matcha green tea powder is it boosts your brain function, increases creativity and improves focus and attention.
Research shows that maca improves attention, memory and reaction time (source).
The two main components in matcha are caffeine and L-theanine, which can improve several aspects of brain function.
What’s more is that you don’t worry about the caffeine content in matcha! L-theanine alters the effects of caffeine in matcha, promoting alertness and helping avoid the jitteriness and crash in energy levels brought by drinking caffeine rich drinks (source).
6. Protects Against Cancer
This vibrant green superfood has also been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in animal and test tube studies.
Green tea and matcha are high in an antioxidant compound called epigallocatechin (EGCG), a type of catechin that exhibits powerful anti-cancer properties.
In one test tube study, EGCG in matcha helped kill off prostate cancer cells (source).
Another study demonstrated that green tea extract decreased tumor size and slowed the growth of breast cancer cells in rats (source).
Several other pieces of research show that EGCG is potent against skin, lung and liver cancer (source 1, source 2, source 3)
7. Gives You Glowing Skin
One of the best reasons to drink matcha? Your skin will glow!
Matcha is loaded with skin-friendly nutrients such as Vitamin C which stimulates collagen production for youthful supple looking skin as well as B-vitamins, chlorophyll and amino acids that promote healthy skin cell turnover.
Also, matcha has 137 times more antioxidants than green tea, which protects the skin from free radicals that cause oxidative and UV damage.
Being extremely high in polyphenols and antioxidants like EGCG, it helps reduce sebum production in the skin which reduces cane and calms inflammation.
8. Strengthens Bones
Matcha also helps strengthen your bones!
This is because it is rich in antioxidant-filled compounds known as polyphenols and catechins that may increase bone mineral density by reducing inflammation related oxidative stress on the bones (source).
Strong bones decrease the chance of developing osteoporosis.
Research shows that drinking green tea helps support bone health (source).
9. Calms Anxiety
Matcha green tea powder is a naturally rich source of an amazing nutrient in tea which is L-theanine.
L-theanine increases ‘alpha’ brain wave power by up to 75%. This compound significantly increases activity in the alphafrequency band which indicates that it relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness (source).
The alpha brain wave is the most optimal brain state, where emotions are stable, moods are high and the mind is calm even in stressful situations.
People who are easily irritable, sensitive and anxious tend to spend most of their time in the ‘beta’ brain wave state.
Matcha offers many layers of beneficial activity against the root causes of anxiety such as, helping activate feel good chemicals in the brain, fighting over-activity in the brain caused by many factors like genetics, diet and other energy drinks through the modulating properties of L-theanine AND reducing overall stress-induced anxiety.
Mood Boosting Matcha Chia Pudding
What you need
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder (where to get it)
- 1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder (where to get it)
- 5 tablespoons chia seeds (where to get it)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (where to get it)
- 1 cup oat milk (where to get it)
- Maple syrup to taste (where to get it)
- Magic Bullet (where to get it)
- Mason jar (where to get it)
Directions
- Blend 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder, 1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup oat milk and 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup in a Magic Bullet.
- In a bowl, whisk chia seeds with the blended liquid.
- Refrigerate overnight or for at least 15 minutes.
- Serve with fresh fruits, Greek yogurt and nuts of your choice!
10. Perfect Coffee Substitute
Last but not least, one of the best health benefits of matcha green tea powder is that is is a totally healthy and effective coffee substitute!
Drinking matcha lattes instead of coffee in the morning gives you instant long-lasting energy and focus without jitters, helps burn stored fat, boosts alpha brain power for increased productivity as well as creativity and helps balance blood sugar levels.
What’s not to love!
Here’s an energizing morning matcha latte recipe:
Morning Matcha Latte
What you need
- ½ teaspoon of matcha green tea powder (where to get it)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (where to get it)
- 1-2 teaspoons raw honey, to taste (where to get it)
- Hot water
- Milk frother (where to get it) or traditional bamboo whisk (where to get it)
- 1 cup almond milk (where to get it)
Directions
- In a cup, add ½ teaspoon of matcha green tea powder, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, followed by 1-2 teaspoons raw honey and a little hot water (80 C or 175 F).
- Now whisk it up using a milk frother or traditional bamboo whisk.
- After that, top it up with 1 cup of almond milk.
- Enjoy!
Thanks for reading this article, ‘Top 10 Benefits of Matcha Green Tea Powder including Recipes.’ Are you going to start taking matcha powder? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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