Widely known as one of the finest kinds of powdered green tea available to date, matcha tea also has multiple health benefits as well. In fact, many consider the bright green, powdered tea leaves to be a superfood because of the following six properties.
Rich in Antioxidants
Antioxidants are proven to be effective in controlling and reversing the effects of aging, boosting the immune system, improving cognitive abilities, helping with mood disorders, improving cardiovascular and ocular health, protecting against DNA damage from free radicals, and increasing energy among other things. As every cup of matcha tea is very rich in antioxidants, the health benefits are quite apparent.
Rich in Catechin
Although catechin is also an antioxidant, it deserves special mention in this case, as it is not found in other antioxidant-rich foods such as berries and beans. What makes the catechin EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate) special is its anti-carcinogenic properties, which reduce the chances of cancerous growths in people who regularly drink matcha.
Calming Effect
The green tea has been associated with better mental health, calmness, and concentration for thousands of years in China and Japan. There’s scientific proof that the ancient Asians really were on to something because matcha contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that has all the aforementioned effects on the human brain. In fact, L-Theanine has been associated with stimulating alpha waves in the human brain and that could be the reason why it calms the nerves without sedating them. Buddhist monks drink matcha to this day because it helps them to stay alert and concentrate while being relaxed at the same time.
Cognitive Benefits
As mentioned previously, matcha is rich in L-Theanine and in addition to generating alpha waves, the amino acid also stimulates the production of the two hormones: serotonin and dopamine. Both of these are associated with mood improvement and better cognitive functions such as enhanced memory and the ability to concentrate better.
Detoxification
The detoxifying effects of green tea are so intense that it is often used even in alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers in Coconut Creek as a supplementary aid. However, matcha takes it to a whole new level altogether because the tea has such a high chlorophyll content, due to the sunlight deprivation process which is practiced for three weeks on the plant prior to harvesting. In addition to ridding the body of chemical toxins, matcha can also clean out heavy metals. Matcha is also great in a plant-based diet.
Weight Loss
Keep in mind that no amount of matcha tea will be able to make you lose any significant weight unless the tea is also accompanied by a healthy dietary habit and a regular exercise regimen. Nevertheless, matcha can certainly boost your efforts since it speeds up the metabolic rate quite significantly, thus helping people burn calories at a much faster rate than normal.
Just because it’s good for you, it doesn’t have to taste bland though. There are a number of excellent matcha recipes that make the tea taste like a treat while retaining all the health benefits and even adding a few more to the mix. Unlike other health foods, you will actually be looking forward to having your next cup of matcha with these recipes.
Have you tried match tea? Let us know in the comments!
1 comment
Amila Gamage Wickramarachchi, thanks for the article post.Really thank you! Great.