If you are not already aware of what matcha green tea is, it is basically a tea that is exclusive to particular regions of Japan (especially in the Kyoto prefecture). What makes it so special is the way that it is grown (under bamboo sheets for the final few months of production - to allow the leaves to fill with chlorophyll) and the way that it is processed (ground, on traditional stone mills).
The fact that, with matcha, you are actually consuming the tea leaves themselves, as opposed to the steeped water with traditional green teas, means that you receive all the same health benefits, but amplified.
Green Tea Extract
Energy-boosting
Contrary to popular belief, matcha green tea does actually contain caffeine.
Now, to many, this may be seen as a bad thing, but with matcha, there is also a natural amino-acid derivative called L-Theanine (a natural mood enhancer) which works in combination with the caffeine to deliver a sustainable release of energy over 6 hours.
So unlike coffee, where you receive a huge rush of caffeine-fuelled energy, then the next moment you are burnt-out. Matcha actually prolongs this energy release provided by caffeine, to keep you alert and active all day long.
Mind-focussing
Many years ago, Buddhist monks used to consume matcha before enduring 12-hour meditation sessions to help them remain calm and focussed.
This, again, is down to the L-Theanine content of matcha.
L-Theanine is proven to help stimulate the mind whilst maintaining a strong sense of calm and relaxation at the same time - which are quite contradictory sensations, but it works nonetheless.
Metabolism-fuelling
Green tea in general has been proven to assist in the process of thermogenesis (the creation of heat in one's body) which, as a result, also boosts metabolic rate.
Given that matcha is essentially an 'amplified' version of standard green tea, it delivers this benefit but on a greater scale.
Cholesterol-reducing
Again, studies performed by the British Medical Foundation found that green tea in general is proven to help reduce one's cholesterol and therefore maintain a healthy heart.
Matcha therefore delivers the same benefit, but to greater effect.
Detoxifying
Due to the fact that, with matcha, you consume the tea leaves themselves, a study by the University of Colarado found that matcha actually contains 137x the antioxidants of standard GT. Meaning, matcha is great for ridding the body of toxins.
In fact, matcha contains more antioxidants than most other 'superfoods', see the chart below:
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