Matcha green tea is “having a moment”. This stone ground powder made from the topmost leaves of the first harvest of a green tea crop is an earthier, brighter version of green tea. It’s a smooth vibrant blend that sits flavor wise somewhere between green tea and espresso.
Matcha’s formula for good health is as simple as adding a scoop to filtered water, giving a good whisk, shake, or stir and enjoy. In addition to its user friendly formula, here are 5 reasons why you should consider making matcha your new health habit:
- Matcha is highly concentrated in catechins, polyphenols, and antioxidants, which boost the immune system and metabolism and protect against aging, tissue damage, inflammation, cancers, and diseases.
- Matcha contains L-Theanine, a phytonutrient that has the ability to simultaneously increase calming brain waves and decrease stressful brain waves, providing an alert and relaxed state of mind, no anxiety, sweaty pits, and racing thoughts on matcha.
- That unusually bright green color of matcha is an indicator of high chlorophyll content. The tea leaves used to produce matcha are protected from sunlight before being harvested. This protection allows the leaves to retain much of their natural chlorophyll, a substance that stimulates energy in the human body and promotes red blood cells. The “green blood” of matcha easily assimilates nutrients into our own blood stream!
- Stay satiated until lunch. Matcha helps to prevent cravings that can come with the spikes in insulin and glucose levels that coffee can cause. In addition, the antioxidant EGCG, found in high levels in green tea, stimulates your nervous system to release fat as fuel. This process produces energy and burns body fat.
- There is no “crash” When matcha is absorbed, the catechins found in it combine with its caffeine molecules, increasing the time it takes for caffeine to break down in your bloodstream. This leaves you with prolonged energy, free of coffee’s inevitable and abrupt crash.
I recommend one cup of matcha green tea to jumpstart your day or as a great substitute for your afternoon caffeine cravings (you don’t have to say goodbye to coffee for good, just mix it up for best benefit and you may find that you end up preferring matcha!).
My favorite matcha: Organic DoMatcha Green Tea & Organic Kenko Matcha
Two of my favorite matcha recipes: Elissa’s Morning Matcha Latte & Elissa’s Matcha Magic
