Photo Source: Sleepwarrior
You’ve heard about all the health benefits of normal green tea. Matcha green tea is like green tea on steroids. People may say to take everything in moderation, but that doesn’t really apply to matcha. In fact, drink as much of it as you can.
History:
While normal green tea is made by steeping the leaves in hot water, matcha green tea is a powder. It sits in the shade t in the months prior to harvesting the leaves and is then steamed, dried, sorted, de-stemmed, and lastly, finely ground. So instead of drinking the water resulting from steeped leaves, matcha green tea drinkers ingest entire leaves. Don’t worry, it tastes delicious, though maybe not at first…it’s an acquired taste.
Health Benefits:
Not only does matcha green tea taste great, but the health benefits are phenomenal in power and numbers. Compared to conventional green tea, matcha has 137 times the EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is an antioxidant that kills off free radicals: molecules that wreak havoc on your cells and cause age-related diseases, heart attack, stroke, and cancer. Matcha helps combat inflammation, oxidation and aging, lowers cholesterol, and detoxifies the body. Studies show that drinking matcha green tea increases the body’s fat-burning rate by 27-33%, and that exercising immediately after matcha consumption results in burning 25% more fat. That’s right; it’s perfect for athletes. Moreover, matcha is known for its stress-relieving and relaxation-promoting properties. This is because it contains a high level of L-theanine, an amino acid which induces alpha-wave activity in the brain. This is ideal for learning and helps matcha drinkers attain sustained mental clarity while counterbalancing nervous jitters that would come from coffee. Last but not least, matcha green tea is packed with a large amount of fiber, which helps digestion and stabilize blood sugar levels. So whether you just need a morning pick-me-up, want to maximize your workout, lose weight, or just drink healthily, matcha green tea is your best friend.
You can order some online, or find it in most tea stores such as David’s Tea, Teavana, Tealish, The Tea Emporium, and others depending on your area of residence.
Pro Tip: Matcha green tea goes great in smoothies!
