What are the health benefits of Matcha?

Matcha is a type of green tea that is cultivated from the plants of Camellia sinensis under special conditions in which the leaves are kept away from sunlight to enhance the production of antioxidants and flavonols. Matcha tea has been consumed by people in China and Japan for hundreds of years and is used in traditional medicine.

Over the years, matcha has been exported to several other countries in pursuit of the health benefits it offers.

Nutritional Value Of Matcha

The best part about the consumption of matcha is that it is way too low in calories but full of essential vitamins and nutrients. One single cup of matcha tea has:

• Protein (300mg)
• Lipids (50mg)
• Caffeine
• Catechins
• Iron
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, K

Health Benefits Of Matcha

Matcha tea is considered a high-quality tea with health-promoting properties. It has the potential of preventing a lot of diseases and leave a positive impact both on physical and mental health. Following are some of the matcha’s health benefits.

1: Cancer Prevention

The theanine and polyphenols present in matcha tea are proven to have some anti-tumor effects which might help in the prevention of cancer. These compounds work synergetically to inhibit tumor growth and reduce oxidative stress in the body, which keeps cells healthy and reduces the risk of cancer.

2: Healthy Skin

The matcha tea can be consumed or applied topically on the skin to gain healthy and glowing skin. Polyphenols play a major role in protecting the skin from harmful UV rays, which ultimately reduces the chances of skin cancer. Matcha tea deactivates free radicals present in the skin which slows down the aging of the skin.

3: Improved Cardiovascular Health

Matcha tea is rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), commonly called catechin, which has a positive impact on cardiovascular health. According to studies, people who consume matcha tea regularly have shown a decreased amount of LDL cholesterol levels in their bodies, whose increased amount is the usual cause of artery blockage and heart attack.

4: Weight Loss

Just like other green teas, matcha tea is also considered helpful for burning fats. It boosts metabolism and increases the thermogenic effects in the human body, which eventually aid in weight loss. However, matcha tea alone can only help lose a few pounds only, and that too with regular use for a long period of time.

5: Reduction Of Cholesterol

Matcha tea decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) while increasing the level of HDL in our blood, which is good for the heart and the body.

6: Control Blood Pressure

The relaxing effect of matcha tea due to the presence of flavonols in it has shown significant improvement in patients suffering from high blood pressure.

7: Protect Brain Function

Matcha tea has theanine and polyphenols with neuroprotective effects which prevent neurotoxin-related damage in the brain, thus protecting brain function. They also boost the working of the central nervous system.

8: Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Not much research is done on this aspect, but it is believed that matcha tea improves the cellular response towards insulin and significantly lowers the blood sugar level, keeping the sugar level in check.

9: Combat Anxiety And Depression

The presence of L-theanine in matcha tea makes it a perfect choice for combating anxiety and depression. The theanine works along with caffeine to produce a soothing and calm effect in the body, relaxing the muscles and improving brain function to fight negative thoughts and boost a good mood.

10: Improve Focus And Memory

The caffeine in matcha help keeps you focus more, and improves your memory and reaction time as well. It works as an energy booster.

11: Boost The Immune System

Several antioxidants present in the matcha make sure to boost your immune system by fighting off diseases and infections. The continuous supply of matcha tea to the body keeps the cellular damage minimal and prevents health disorders.

12: Keep Hormones In Check

The matcha helps in lowering the estrogen levels in your body, which keep the overall ratio of hormones in balance.

13: Improved Oral Health

The matcha tea manages to keep the level of acid optimal in your mouth by killing off harmful bacteria and other micro-organisms, thus, your oral and dental health remains intact.

14: Reduce Inflammation

The inflammation in the body caused by arthritis is reduced by polyphenols present in matcha tea. According to recent research, it might also help in improving bone health.

15: Protect The Liver

The detoxifying nature of matcha tea which removes harmful toxins from the body makes sure to keep the liver healthy. There is also speculation that matcha tea help in the processing of nutrients in the liver.

The Final Word

Matcha tea provides enormous health benefits like improvement in cardiovascular and liver health, a better immune system, better focus and memory, prevention of cancer, and better health of the skin. All these benefits can only be enjoyed after consuming matcha tea on regular basis. However, it shall never be used in excess.