Drink The Health Benefits Of Matcha Green Tea!

There’s green tea, and then there’s matcha green tea! Which looks sort of like algae (yuck!). So, it just goes to show you that if it looks nasty it’s probably good for you! Since I happen drink a lot of 80-proof stuff that’s not so good for you, I like to balance things out with something beneficial! If you’ve never tried matcha, you’ll find that it has a real earthy flavor to it. Not everyone likes that, but you can dress it up and transform it into a delicious beverage by ordering it as a sweetened latte. Frothy milk and a little sugar do wonders! Or, disguise the flavor entirely but get all the health benefits by adding a scoop to your fruit smoothie. You’ll never know it’s in there!

A New Way Of Going Green

To learn more about the benefits of matcha green tea, we looked to our friends at Fix.com who always come through with some super cool infographics and information! You can read the full article at Fix.com. Or check out this excerpt below (which gives you the skinny!) from contributor Nicola Brown.

Why Drink Matcha?

It’s packed with antioxidants – more than any other source (such as raw fruit and green veggies). Antioxidants help to neutralize “free radicals,” but what does that mean? Free radicals are essentially the reactive elements of the air we breathe that can break down proteins, molecules, and even our genes. We need the right balance of antioxidants to prevent too much of this breakdown. That’s why matcha is so good for combating all sorts of damage to our bodies. It boosts healthy skin, supports a stronger immune system, increases metabolism, and helps fight off a whole host of degenerative diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and even dementia. And the effects aren’t small. Matcha contains over 100 times more epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – one of the most beneficial antioxidants for fighting cancer – than others teas.

So how does matcha create that feeling of being awake but calm? That’s L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain, which lead to relaxation without drowsiness. L-theanine also plays a key role in the production of dopamine and serotonin, which enhance mood, improve memory, and boost concentration.

If all that isn’t enough, matcha also produces a longer, more sustained level of energy than other stimulants like coffee and energy drinks. Because of all the other complex nutrients in matcha, the caffeine forms molecular bonds that result in a slow release of the caffeine, so you won’t experience the same spike and crash or jitters that you can get with coffee. For recipes and to learn more about matcha green tea, check out the full article.

What’s your favorite healthy tea? Let us know in the comments below!