Matcha, the latest Superfood!
MATCHA, THE LATEST SUPERFOOD!
Matcha tea is the latest superfood trend with health claims from fighting against cancer to heart disease, boosting memory and aiding with weight loss, is it too much hype or should we all take a taste of this Super Tea?
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a powdered form of a Japanese green tea that is grown in shade to increase certain properties and make the taste more smooth with a less astringent after taste. Matcha is a ground powder of the entire leaf of tea which is wholly consumed rather than steeping the leaf and discarding, which allows for about 10xs the nutritional boost. The use of shade in the growing process increases production of caffeine and L-Theonine a natural mood stabilizer.
What is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is an amino acid derivative that functions as a natural relaxant and is found almost exclusively in green tea. L-theanine stimulates the production of alpha waves in the brain those found in deep meditation, and is associated with relaxation and mental alertness, as well as influencing dopamine and serotonin our feel good neurohormones. Unlike other calming agents, L-theanine doesn’t cause drowsiness. The good balance of Caffeine and L-theanine allows Matchato generate steady energy without the jitters or crash associated with caffeine in coffee and other “energy” drinks.
Matcha Food-as-Medicine Benefits:
Depression
Anxiety
Adrenal Fatigue
Weight Loss
Diabetes
Heart Disease
Cancer
and more!
And how does Matcha work?
Matcha can be very supportive of adrenal function for stress response and can produce L-Theonine which regulates stress hormones and aids in management while providing stimulant of caffeine and antioxidants EGCG from green tea to fight against cellular damage aging and free radicals in the body. Basically it can fuel productivity without the burn out! The phytocompounds in the tea leaf aid in detoxifying the body and reducing free radicals which can prevent heart disease and cancer. As Matcha can aid in fat burn it can also improve insulin resistance which can promote stabilized blood sugar and reduce risk for diabetes.
How much is enough?
1 tsp per 6oz hot water is deemed a cup which is equivalent to about 10 cups of green tea. Research studies support 2-3 cups per day to fight against breast cancer, so a serving of 1 cup of matcha or a tsp in other fun recipes is an ample dose of this powerful prescription. Just one cup of health-promoting matcha has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular green tea.
It has no calories yet provides:
EGCG catachins aid in metabolism
Chlorophyll to aid in detoxification and antioxidant function
Caffeine a natural stimulant and antidepressant
L-theanine to aid as a natural relaxant while promoting optimal cognitive function
Matcha Recipes!
Matcha Keto Tea
Matcha Chia Parfait
Stress Busting Smoothie
Is there too much hype?
We don’t think so! It has been around for thousands of years which stands the test of time for a fad. When you are looking for a steady boost without the jitters and a way to stay focused on tasks without stress induced fatigue, Matcha may be your cup of tea!
