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.
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.
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