7 Powerful Benefits Of Matcha – And How To Use it

By Rebecca | October 12, 2022 |

Benefits of Matcha

Matcha has rightfully earned its place on coffee shop boards due to its abundant nutritional profile.  It has become trendy in the wellness industry due to the multiple health benefits and its vibrant colour which simply, cannot be ignored.

What Is Matcha, Anyway?

It is a form of green tea which has been powdered down finely using the young tea leaves creating a vibrant green powder (without the use of synthetic food colourings, I might add). When you have a cup of regular green tea, the tea leaves infuse into the hot water and is then discarded.
With matcha, you are drinking the actual leaves.  It comes from a Japanese ritual where it is  traditionally consumed as a tea – keep scrolling to learn how to make it.
Here’s why you need matcha in your life

1. It Contains An Abundance Of Nutrients

Matcha contains high amounts of antioxidants which help stabilise harmful free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells and cause chronic disease.
It also contains other compounds in abundance, which are known as polyphenols and are known in the tea leaves as catechins, specifically epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).  These powerhouses have an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer affect on the body.
Matcha also contains quercetin, caffeine and chlorophyll and good amounts of vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, iron and fibre!

2. It May Improve Blood Sugar Balance

Matcha has been shown in studies to help stabilise blood sugar levels with an effect on decreased fasting glucose and HbA1c concentrations.
The antioxidant components quercetin and rutin help to effectively break down carbohydrates making matcha a diabetes-friendly drink.
But of course none of this is any good if you’re adding lots of sugar, sweeteners and milk to your matcha.

3. Looks After Your Brain Health

Matcha contains an amino acid called L-Theanine which may contribute to better memory and attention, reduced cognitive decline in ageing and enhanced brain function.

L-Theanine is also a wonderful relaxant and can help improve your sleep and mood.

4. May Prevent Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), EGCG can protect cells from DNA damage, activate detoxification enzymes that inhibit tumour growth, and promote cancer cell destruction which could be due to the antioxidant properties of its main compound, EGCG.

A recent study at the University of Salford found that a regular consumption of matcha could be associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.

5. Helps Your Skin To Glow

The abundant amount of Vitamin C may directly stimulate collagen production to help keep your skin healthy.

 

6. It Has Caffeine But Doesn’t Give You The Jitters

There’s nothing quite like the first cup of coffee in the morning but depending on the strength, you might get the shakes and find you have a racing heart.

The primary amino acid, L-theanine can counter effect the caffeine causing a much steadier increase in energy and helps to avoid the afternoon slump that coffee causes.

This makes it a good replacement to coffee in the morning!

7. May Help You Lose Weight

There are many studies which link green tea consumption to help sustain weight loss which is thought to be due to the speeding up of the metabolic rate.
One small study suggested that green tea consumption through exercise improved fat burning by 17% and another study which showed that green tea boosted energy.
Whilst these studies are based on green tea, it is thought that given that matcha has more nutritional benefits, the benefits are the same, if not better.

How To Make!

I love starting my day with a matcha latte to give me a calm, morning energy, but there are many ways of incorporating this powerhouse into your life!

You can make a tea, add it to smoothies, pancakes, baking and much more but before you begin, choose the right brand.

Helpful Tips

  1. Choose organic – the better quality the less toxins and additives. Always go for sugar free, but you can add a little honey if you find the taste too bitter. There are so many brands out there but my favourites are Match and Co and Spring Blossom Tea.
  2. Store it correctly – matcha doesn’t last forever. It needs to be used within about 2 months and kept in the fridge for freshness
  3. You might need a whisk – or a milk frother – it breaks up the clumps and creates gorgeous green bubbles.
  4. It can be an acquired taste – the taste can take a little time getting used to.  It does have a slight bitter taste so you might want to add a little honey to sweeten it up.
  5. Instead of water, use almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk or dairy milk

Step 1

Get your equipment; a large cup, whisk, teaspoon and matcha powder

Step 2

Put 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of powder into your cup

Step 3

Add a small amount of water to make a paste

Step 4

Add around 6 ounces of hot water (not boiling) and whisk in a zig zag motion to create bubbles

Any questions? Get in touch!

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Posted in Uncategorized, Vitamins & Minerals

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