It’s that time again a new year and hopefully a fresh start. With the new year many people make resolutions to be their best selves and that of course includes getting healthy. Enter the long standing it girl drink Matcha, a health drink that you may want to add into you 2023 diet. We discuss everything you need to know about the health benefits of matcha.
What Is Matcha
First off you may be wondering what actually is Matcha (we have all seen the aesthetic photos of the green drink from our favourite IG influences) but what is matcha and why does it pack powerful healthy punch? Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves, traditionally consumed in East Asia. Matcha’s raw ingredient is Tencha, which is made by steaming and drying tea leaves cultivated by blocking direct sunlight, without kneading. After drying, Tencha is deveined and destemmed, and ground in a stone mill for powdering, and this powder is Matcha.
The Health Benefits of Matcha
Now that we know what matcha is let’s discuss all of the awesome health benefits of this green drink! Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, but since it’s made from the entire leaf, it packs in a more concentrated amount of antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds.
- High in antioxidants: we all know that antioxidants are good for us well matcha has a ton of them because it’s rich in catechins. Antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells and cause chronic disease. Including this drink in your diet will increase your antioxidant intake!
- Helps protect the liver: Some studies have found that matcha may help protect the health of your liver. The liver plays an important roll in helping detox our bodies from toxins. Some studies have shown that matcha could prevent liver damage and decrease the risk of liver disease.
- May help prevent cancer: Matcha is jam-packed with health-promoting compounds, including some that have been linked to cancer prevention.
- Boots brain function: Matcha has been shown to improve attention, memory, and reaction time. It also contains caffeine and L-theanine, which can improve several aspects of brain function.
- Supports weight loss: now you may be asking can matcha help with weight loss? The answer is yes! If you look at the ingredients at most weight loss supplements you will probably find green tea extract among the ingredients. Studies show that it may help speed up the metabolism to increase energy expenditure and boost fat burning.
Can Matcha Help Boost Fertility
If you are trying to conceive chances are you are mindful of what you are putting into your body. You are probably wondering if matcha can help boots fertility or if matcha can cause infertility. There are definitely natural ways to boost fertility. In fact, food and lifestyle choices have a significant impact on fertility for both males and females, and small day-to-day changes can significantly increase your likelihood of getting pregnant. We know matcha is high in antioxidants and antioxidants are essential for overall health, but especially when considering fertility, because they can neutralize free radicals in the body. So adding this into your diet is definitely a good idea if you are trying to conceive.
Matcha VS Coffee
I have to admit since becoming a mom I am a bit of a coffee addict, let’s be real when you are running on little sleep you need something to get you through. Can matcha replace coffee, and give you that much needed energy boost? In general matcha is healthier than coffee, coffee causes spikes in adrenaline glucose and insulin levels, which in turn create jitteriness and nervousness. Matcha however creates a calm alertness with just a sixth the caffeine of coffee (25mg versus a typical 150mg cup of coffee). There are no spikes and crashes, it just comes on gently and leaves just as gently. So definitely consider swapping out your morning cup of jo for matcha (your health will thank you for it).
Looking for more healthy drinks to add into your diet check out the health benefits of chlorophyll!
