Matcha green tea has increasingly become popular in the health and fitness world in the last decade. This is no surprise due to the great amount of nutrients this beverage contains. The following article will share 7 health benefits to Matcha green tea, and why it is a good idea to start incorporating it into your daily life.
What is Matcha Green Tea?
Matcha is a special form of powdered tea, made out of finely powdered green tea leaves. While with regular tea, you infuse the leaves with hot water, and remove it before consuming it; with matcha, you’re drinking the actual leaves. These fine powdered leaves are concentrated with nutrients and antioxidants that can enhance your health. It’s origin is from the East, where it has been consumed for many generations. As cultures began to spread globally due to travel, matcha has also been introduced to the West. These days, you can find it at almost any coffee shop, and for a good reason. It’s great taste, along with the health benefits makes it a great choice of beverage for everyone.
Scientific Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea
1. High in Antioxidants
According to HealthLine, matcha tea is rich in catechins. Catechins are a type of phenolic compound found in berries, tea, and cocoa- which are a form of natural antioxidants. Antioxidants are important as they are substances that may protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases (Mayo Clinic).
2. Helps to flush out toxins and protect liver health
Having a healthy liver is essential for our overall health and well-being. The liver plays a major role in flushing out toxins, processing nutrients, and metabolizing drugs. Several studies have discovered that matcha may help protect the health of your liver. In addition, it helps to flush out toxins and detox the body.
3. May help with enhancing brain function
According to HealthLine, some research has shown that matcha has properties that can boost brain function. Moreover, Matcha also contains L-theanine, which is a compound that alters the effects of caffeine, and promotes alertness without a crash in energy.
4. Helps to speed up metabolism and can help with weight loss
Many studies have shown that green tea has an ability to enhance weight loss. This may be due to its ability to speed up metabolism to increase energy output, and boost fat burning. Overall, green tea has become known for its ability to help with weight loss, and has been widely popular because of that.
5. Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that the antioxidants in matcha (specifically catechin), are able to lower blood pressure, and improve flow-mediated vasodilation. This makes matcha green tea a wonderful choice of beverage for people suffering from high blood pressure.
6. Helps to Lower Cholesterol
The antioxidants in matcha helps to lower cholesterol, which is good because high cholesterol can cause many harmful conditions such as heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke. Therefore, matcha may be used as a natural remedy to lowering cholesterol (in addition to proper diet, exercise, sleep and so forth).
7. Promotes alertness and better focus
Matcha naturally contains caffeine, and hence helps you to stay alert and more focused. As mentioned above, due to a compound known as L-theanine, it alters the contents of the caffeine and promotes alertness, without the expected energy crash one feels after a cup of coffee.
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Bottom Line
I hope you found this article helpful and resourceful! Please let me know in the comments section if there are any other specific topics you would like for me to cover in the next few blog posts. It’s my mission to provide you with new up-to-date yoga, health, and diet articles to help you achieve your best self in the mind, body and spirit!
With Love,
Yana Thompson