Magic Matcha: 5 ways it is good for the mind and body

Here are 5 ways your matcha addiction is positively contributing to keep your overall mind and body health in balance.  

Matcha – the green powdered form of Japanese green tea that has reached cult status in the wellness sphere. We all know and love it, from light spongy cheesecakes to iced lattes with various compotes mixed in. But do we actually know it? I mean, what can we truly gain from matcha apart from a viridescent addition to our Insta feed and an excuse to meet friends at the local matcha hotstop? A lot, it turns out.  

It has anti-inflammatory properties 

Matcha has a unique chemical composition, and is largely considered high quality when it comes to tea beverages. This is mainly due to a high content of antioxidant substances. One of these is catechin, with studies showing that it has potential to help cognitive function with regular matcha intake.  

Helps with weight loss 

Matcha improves the lipid profile – which measures the amount of fat molecules (lipid) in your blood. This can, in turn, improve glucose metabolism and inflammation, resulting in a reduction of weight gain.  

Matcha regulates anxiety 

Although matcha contains caffeine, it actually reduces anxiety commonly associated with the stimulant. This is because it also contains high amounts of the amino acid L-theanine. This lessens the stimulating effects of caffeine and actually helps you retain an energenised and focused state. However, it has been shown that commercially processed matcha does not necessarily reach the same levels of L-theanine like in traditional Japanese matcha.  

It helps aid gut health 

Matcha contains plant compounds that aren’t absorbed by the large intestine where they are broken down by gut bacteria. This means they can help fuel good gut bacteria to then modify the immune and digestive system as a whole.  

Helps protect the body against disease 

Matcha has compounds that are called polyphenols, which are known to help protect the body against disease and largely contribute to a balanced diet. The unique manufacturing process of matcha preserves the plants nutritional values, meaning the natural protective properties in the plants are transferred directly to the drink.  

References

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9792400/#:~:text=Matcha%20tea%20has%20various%20health,has%20no%20effect%20on%20mood. 

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/1/85