It’s the health food that’s become the talk of the town…
People are demanding it in coffee shops, there are dedicated e-commerce websites that have it as a part of their inventory, and yoga bars have started to roll out new menus centered around this ingredient.
But that’s not where it stops…
It has also become the ‘in’ thing amongst health-conscious celebrities.
Wondering what we’re talking about?
If you haven’t guessed it by now, we’re talking about the green elixir…Matcha!
Matcha has become a household name today, but despite its immense popularity, we’re still posing the question— Is Matcha’s health benefits really worth the hype, or is it just a passing fad?
So why don’t we explore it a little further for ourselves…
But first, let’s start with a better understanding of what Matcha is and where it originates from:
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a stone ground powdered tea that originates from Japan, where Buddhist monks have long been using it to focus on their meditation.
Matcha leaves are grown on tea bushes, in plenty of shade. They are extremely high in chlorophyll, giving the plant its characteristic bright green color. The leaves are traditionally ground by a granite stone and this is done in the dark to prevent any loss of nutrients.
Now that we’ve got an idea of what Matcha is, let’s look at the properties that make it a superfood.
Boosts Brain Functioning
Green tea has been touted as brain food for a while now. But unlike regular green tea, consumption of Matcha has a better impact on brain functioning due to a higher amount of tea-phytochemicals. A study found that drinking of Matcha induced mental clarity, cognitive function, physical activation, and relaxation.
The study provided reliable evidence showing that L-theanine and caffeine (two components of Matcha) have clear beneficial effects on sustained attention, memory, and suppression of distraction.
Great For The Heart
Drinking Matcha tea, or green tea as it is more widely known, is a great way to keep the heart healthy, but it needs to be a long-term option a study published by the British Journal of Nutrition states.
The study, which was conducted on 25 randomized controlled trials, found that after 12 weeks of drinking tea, blood pressure for the trials was lower by 2.6 mmHg systolic and 2.2 mmHg diastolic.
Helps in Weight Loss
Obesity has been a growing health issue across the globe. Drinking green tea is a proposed solution for weight loss management – but does it have any scientific proof?
Yes, it does.
A study found that drinking green tea positively impacts metabolism and increases energy expenditure amongst humans. It further adds “ A green tea–caffeine mixture improves weight maintenance, through thermogenesis, fat oxidation, and sparing fat-free mass.”
Rich Source of Antioxidants
Matcha is a rich source of antioxidants called catechins— epigallocatechin gallate, in particular, which is believed to have cancer-fighting power. Antioxidants help in stabilizing free radicals that damage cancer producing cells.
Wrapping It Up
Looking through these studies we’ve realized that there’s enough proof that Matcha has some amazing health benefits. Are you ready to make Matcha a part of your daily diet? Have you tried it before? Share your experiences in the comments below.
