Like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it’s grown differently and has a unique nutrient profile. Farmers shade the plants used for matcha for most of the growth period. This lack of direct sunlight increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and gives the plant a darker green hue. After harvesting the leaves, producers remove the stems and veins and grind the leaves into a fine powder. Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire tea leaf and contains more caffeine and antioxidants than are typically present in green tea. Studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health, and even aid in weight loss.
Health benefits and advantages of consuming matcha
- High in antioxidants : Matcha is rich in catechins, a class of plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants. Antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals, compounds that can damage cells and cause chronic disease. Matcha is grown in the shade. When the leaves are harvested, the catechin content is lower than in other types of green tea. However, when you dissolved in water, it produces 3 times more. Including matcha in your diet could increase your antioxidant intake, which may help prevent cell damage and lower your risk of several chronic diseases.
- May help protect the liver : The liver is vital to health and plays a central role in flushing out toxins, metabolizing drugs, and processing nutrients. Some studies have found that matcha may help protect the health of your liver.
- Boosts brain function : Some research shows that several of the components in matcha could help enhance brain function.
- May help prevent cancer : Matcha contains some compounds that have been linked to cancer prevention in test tubes and animal studies. For instance, matcha is high in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a type of catechin that may have powerful anti-cancer properties. Some laboratory and animal studies have suggested it may help prevent some types of cancer, although more research is needed.
- May promote heart health: Some research has suggested that drinking green tea, which has a similar nutrient profile to matcha, may help protect against heart disease.Green tea consumption has been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with coffee, and some studies have suggested it might help lower the risk of high blood pressure and other complications in people with heart disease. The compounds in matcha are similar to those in green tea, and some people have suggested it may have similar benefits. However, at least one animal study appears to contradict this claim
- Helps you lose weight : Green tea is well known for its ability to enhance weight loss and often features in weight loss supplements.
The bottom line
Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, but it contains more concentrated levels of antioxidants and other plant compounds. It may have a variety of health benefits, ranging from enhancing weight management to decreasing the risk of heart disease. It is also simple to prepare as a tea and suitable for adding to shakes, desserts, lattes, and other foods and drinks.
