It’s true, I’m matcha obsessed. Maybe you’ve heard about it- it’s been a hot topic buzzing around the wellness world these days. I know how hard it can be to dig through different wellness trends trying to figure out what is the real deal and what is just a fad. So let’s focus on matcha for a minute and see what the hype is all about!
Matcha is a powdered type of green tea that is grown in Japan. The green tea powder is not strained before using, so you are actually consuming the entire leaf. This makes it much more potent than other teas! Matcha can be a great substitute for coffee. It does contain less caffeine than coffee (hear me out), but it’s energy comes from it’s natural properties. This means that you get the drive without the jitters! Matcha contains what is called L-Theanine, which is a relaxing amino acid helping you achieve balanced energy instead of a crash and burn (coffee I’m lookin at you).
Other benefits:
Source of catechins
Catechin EGCg is an antioxidant that has cancer fighting properties. It also helps to fight free radicals in the body from things like chemicals, UV rays, and pollution.
Detoxify With Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is what gives matcha it’s rich green color. It can also aid in the elimination of heavy metals and chemicals by increasing the blood’s capacity to deliver nutrients to cells, which helps the body cleanse itself. Matcha contains a superior amount of chlorophyll in comparison to other teas.
Supports Weight Loss
The EGCg found in Matcha has been shown to aid in burning fat to be used as energy. It also boosts your metabolism without stressing the body, it won’t raise your blood pressure or heart rate.
Concentration and Focus
The L-Theanine mentioned above creates alpha waves, which keep you alert but relaxed at the same time. L-Theanine may also boost memory and learning ability.
Antioxidant Powerhouse
Antioxidants prevent aging, and help fight against infections and disease. One cup of matcha contains as many antioxidants as 10 cups of brewed green tea. It also has higher antioxidant levels than some of the best known sources such as blueberries, pomegranates, and goji berries.
Reduces Heart Disease
Matcha can help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The antioxidants can help to improve artery function.
These are just a handful of the powers matcha contains. When picking out matcha, it is important to remember that quality matters! First of all, be sure that the only ingredient in the powder is matcha. Try to get organic, non-GMO, and ceremonial-grade whenever possible. Ceremonial-grade is essentially the highest quality for making drinks, while culinary-grade is great for baking.
My go-to morning matcha recipe:
1/2-1 tsp of Matcha powder
1/2 tsp of Sun Potion Green Adaptogen
1/2 tsp Sun Potion Ashwagandha (helps maintain stress)
1 scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides ( good for joints, hair, skin, and more!)
1 tsp coconut oil or coconut butter (good fats!)
A little bit of raw honey
Heat 1 C of almond milk over stove top, pour in favorite mug, and add all the above! I use a hand held frother like this one to mix it up. If you want to make it even more simple, just mix 1/2-1 tsp matcha with hot water, and some honey to sweeten! It’ll still be super yummy, and you’ll get all benefits matcha has to offer!
I don’t know how I missed this one…but so glad I found it! I use Matcha too, but wasn’t aware of all the benefits. Thank you for the post!
My matcha recipe comes from “Oh She Glows” recipe book. Rather than post it here I’ll give you the link…http://ohsheglows.com/2015/03/10/green-tea-lime-pie-smoothie-bowl/ I love this in the summer time! Now I have three great ways to drink Matcha!! Gotcha matcha!