6 Health Benefits of Matcha - Is Matcha Good for You?

Although its name has been popularized lately thanks to celebrities, this tea has been the protagonist of many Japanese ceremonies for centuries. 

It comes from the same plant as green tea, Camellia sinensis, but due to its concentration, it has higher levels of nutrients and proteins.

How do we get matcha tea?

Farmers cover the plants between 20 and 30 days before harvest, these results in an increase in the production of chlorophyll, enhancing the amino acid content and giving it a dark green tone. Once harvested, steamed and dried, the leaves are milled. This gives it a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants, in addition to its characteristic powder presentation.

How to add it to your diet?

Mix 60 to 120 ml. of water almost boiling with 1 to 2 teaspoons of Matcha powder, when it looks sparkling it means that it is ready to consume. This tea is easy to prepare and incorporate into your diet in different ways: Matcha latte, smoothie or yogurt. One or two cups a day are recommended, but you must look for certified organic varieties, so that you can enjoy their benefits without risking any side effects.

What are the great benefits of matcha tea?

Some studies report that due to the way it is produced, Matcha tea possesses a greater amount of antioxidants than traditional green tea. Here are some of its benefits studied:

1. Natural antioxidant

It is rich in catechins, plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants. These help stabilize harmful free radicals, compounds that can affect cells and cause chronic diseases. The number of certain catechins in Matcha is up to 137 times higher than in other types of green tea.

2. Protects the liver

Different studies have found that Matcha can help protect liver health. This can be seen in the reduction of liver enzymes, less risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or a lower risk of liver disease.

3. Strengthens brain function

Matcha tea has a compound called L-thiamine, which alters the effects of caffeine, promotes alertness, induces relaxation, lowers stress levels and helps prevent the fall of energy levels that happen to the consumption of caffeine. It also provides improvements in reaction time, memory and brain function in the elderly.

4. Help prevent cancer

It has a significant presence of polyphenols and other antioxidants, such as

Epigallocatechin-3 (EGCG), a type of catechins that has been shown to have powerful anticancer properties. According to test tube and animal studies, EGCG has been shown to be effective in the prevention of skin, prostate, lung, liver and breast cancer.

5. Keeps the heart healthy

A balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and drinking Matcha can help you keep your heart healthy and protect you against heart disease and stroke. It has been shown to reduce total and LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, as well as triglycerides.

6. Help to lose weight

In the vast majority of weight loss supplements, we can find "green tea extract" as an ingredient. Different studies show that it can help speed up the metabolism to increase energy expenditure, increase fat burning and maintain weight loss. Matcha comes from the same plant and would share these effects.