Four Benefits of Drinking Matcha

Matcha (or maccha) is finely ground, powdered Japanese green tea. Introduced in Japan by the Buddhist monk Eisai Zenji in 1,191 AD, matcha soon become popular among monks, samurai, and Japanese royalty. Since then, matcha has been consumed for a wide variety of therapeutic and curative benefits. Four of these benefits are listed below and should make any health-conscious person want to reach for a warm, frothy cup sometime soon.

1. Energy. One tablespoon of matcha typically yields an 8 oz. cup of tea and contains about 35mg of caffeine. Comparatively, an 8oz cup of brewed coffee has about 90-200mg of caffeine (depending on the strength and type of coffee). However, unlike coffee, matcha contains phytonutrients and amino acids that help release the caffeine into the bloodstream over a period of 6 to 8 hours. Instead of a 30-minute caffeine high followed by an unforgiving crash, matcha’s phytonutrients naturally stabilize and sustain your energy for several hours.

2. Weight Loss. Matcha is an excellent source of dietary fiber (4.7g per tablespoon), and contains only 10 calories per serving. The thermogenic properties of matcha promote fat oxidation, resulting in a 25 percent increase of burning fat after exercise. Since matcha does not raise blood pressure, heart rate, or other bodily stress, it is an ideal supplemental weight loss beverage.

3. Health. In addition to trace amounts of minerals and vitamins A, C, E, and K, matcha is best known for containing a high concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer according to recent studies. Similar to brewed green tea, matcha helps lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and risk of cardiovascular diseases.

4. Stress Relief and Mental Clarity. This is fairly obvious— who doesn’t enjoy a nice cup of tea to relax and unwind? Indeed, 12th century Buddhist monks considered matcha so essential to their meditation that they even incorporated the drink into a pre-meditation ritual. Matcha is rich in L-Theanine, an amino acid that helps the brain combat stress-induced beta waves with alpha waves, which promote relaxation and concentration. Although L-Theanine is present in both green and black tea, matcha contains five times more L-Theanine than either brewed beverage.

Sources:
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-04-01/national/38185182_1_tea-association-annual-supermarket-sales-antioxidants
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thrillist/caffeine-in-coffee_b_3671665.html
http://gotmatcha.com/matcha_caffeine.html
http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/tea/matcha_04.html

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.