Matcha tea is not only a tasty pick-me-up, it is also said to have numerous positive effects on well-being and performance . Matcha tea contains amino acids and antioxidants for your brain function and other positive effects.
This blog post gets to the bottom of these health benefits. Before we get into the details of what health-promoting effects matcha tea can have, let’s first take a look at what exactly is so valuable about matcha.
The most important source for this are the active ingredients contained in matcha powder.
What is matcha powder made of?
Our Matcha powder consists of 100% natural organic Tencha, to which other natural organic ingredients are added, depending on the variety, such as B. Spices, herbs, moringa or essential oils.
Tencha is a green tea that is shaded in the last few weeks before harvest. As a result, the plant forms a particularly large amount of chlorophyll and other valuable ingredients. Therefore, the effect of Matcha can be compared to green tea, but is more intense because the concentration of active ingredients in a good Matcha is much higher.
Many health studies, conducted in Japan and China in particular, refer to green tea in general.
Let's take a look at the active ingredients in detail.
Antioxidants: The natural fountain of youth
Antioxidants are among the most important means of protecting our body from cell damage. They help to bind so-called free radicals and thus prevent aging processes and diseases.
Antioxidants are most effective when they occur naturally in plants and can unfold their effect together with other substances. Consumer advice centers, among others, warn against taking isolated antioxidants.
The most important antioxidant in matcha powder is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is found here in a particularly high concentration and, together with many other valuable ingredients, contributes to maintaining your well-being.
In the laboratory, the ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity) is used to measure the antioxidant effect of food. Among the superfoods, matcha tea is one of the best in this category with a value of 1711 units per gram. In fact, this value even surpasses other extremely healthy options such as goji berries or pomegranate seeds. However, there are no scientific studies that have measured the physiological effects based on this value.
L-theanine and other important amino acids
Amino acids are essential building blocks of our body and are responsible for numerous functions. Matcha powder is rich in important amino acids. Green tea is particularly well known for L-theanine, which has a relaxing effect on the body without making you tired and therefore has a variety of positive effects on body and mind.
Vitamins, minerals and bitter substances
Due to its gentle processing, matcha powder still contains many valuable vitamins and minerals.
Matcha tea is rich in beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, with around 300 mg per gram of powder.(1) It also contains various B vitamins, vitamin E and numerous minerals such as potassium and calcium.
The high chlorophyll content also has positive effects on the body.
Matcha tea also contains valuable bitter substances, which are particularly important for the metabolism.
caffeine
Of course, we shouldn't forget the caffeine either. In Matcha powder, this is bound to tannins, which means that the caffeine is much more digestible than, for example, the caffeine in coffee. It is only released in the intestines, which means that the encouraging effect is slower and more lasting.
The high level of caffeine in a cup of matcha, which is roughly equivalent to an espresso, is one of the reasons why you should not consume matcha tea in unlimited quantities.
We recommend 2-4 bowls a day. However, take care of your body, because people have different sensitivity to caffeine tolerance.
How matcha tea makes your brain perform at its best
Matcha tea can positively affect brain function in a variety of ways.
The main reason for this is the high content of L-theanine.
L-Theanine has a calming effect because it stimulates our brain to emit alpha waves that induce focused rest and relaxation.
L-theanine also has a beneficial effect on maintaining serotonin and dopamine.
This helps with creative processes and brings motivation.
By drinking matcha tea you will feel:
- awake and motivated
- Focused and clear
- Calm and centered
The attentive reader will certainly notice that this description also applies to the effects of meditation. So it's no wonder that the Japanese tea ceremony uses matcha powder to achieve a multiplied effect through the ritual in conjunction with the active ingredients.
Matcha tea has a positive effect on your metabolism
The high concentration of antioxidants in combination with the bitter substances and other ingredients means that enjoying matcha tea boosts the metabolism.
Various studies suggest that matcha tea can positively affect human metabolism by lowering insulin levels, stabilizing blood sugar levels, and increasing energy expenditure and fat burning.
More research is needed to understand the precise mechanisms by which matcha tea produces these effects.(2)
Due to the positive influence on the metabolism, matcha tea can support the weight loss process . Matcha tea can also be a helpful supplement in the context of diabetes. For example, these conclusions can be drawn from a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. As part of this, women with type 2 diabetes who drank matcha tea for over 12 weeks were examined.
If in doubt, consult your doctor to be sure matcha tea is helpful in your case.
Health and Matcha: Speculation or Truth?
Matcha tea is also suggested for many other health benefits, ranging from boosting the immune system to preventing cancer. This is derived, among other things, from studies on the EGCG.
So far, there is no reliable scientific evidence on this.
If you research information about "superfoods" such as matcha on the Internet, you will always come across conflicting opinions.
In many cases there are no scientifically recognized studies on specific effects. There are various reasons for this.
With all health issues it should be noted that every person is very individual and our physical health depends on complex factors, so that it is practically impossible to compare 2 identical cases with each other - one of many reasons why our classical science reaches its limits here bumps. With the effect of a food it is all the more difficult. After all, the effect of a single product or even individual substances can never be isolated from the overall context of a person's living conditions.
We would therefore like to emphasize that we are showing the possibilities that matcha tea offers, but of course we are not making any promises of healing. A single food can never be responsible for your overall health, but it supports it.
Listen to your feelings, try them out for yourself and observe how and which products are particularly good for you.
What we guarantee you at Matchatto:
A variety of wonderful taste experiences that will certainly wake you up and help you get through the day more concentrated and relaxed.
