You must have noticed that a beautiful light green drink has become very popular in cafes and on social media these days? Some people call it 'Matcha Latte'. So, many people think that this is just another fashion. But what is this Matcha really? Is it really good for our bodies? Let's talk about this precisely and simply today.
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Okay, so what is Matcha?
Simply put, matcha is a special type of green tea that has been finely ground. It is made from the tea plant Camellia sinensis, but not like regular tea. Farmers grow these tea plants in the shade for a few weeks before harvesting. This reduces the amount of sunlight, which increases the chlorophyll and amino acids in the tea leaves. That's what gives matcha its beautiful, bright green color.
The important thing is, when we usually drink green tea, we put some tea leaves in hot water, strain it and drink only the essence. But with matcha, we grind the whole tea leaf and drink it . That's why, matcha provides our body with more nutrients, especially caffeine, vitamins, fiber and antioxidants, than regular green tea.
What are the health benefits of drinking matcha for our body?
Matcha is not just a delicious drink. It contains many valuable properties for our health.
1. Helps maintain heart health
Like green tea, matcha also contains powerful antioxidants called catechins . These help reduce oxidative stress - an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants - in our bodies. They also control inflammation in the body.
Therefore, research has found that matcha may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and other heart diseases.
2. A little 'boost' for brain function
Matcha can temporarily boost your brain function. In a small study, people who drank or ate matcha had better attention, memory, and reaction time than those who didn't. But scientists believe that this could be due to the caffeine in matcha. Therefore, more research is needed on this.
3. It can also help protect the liver.
Some research suggests that drinking green tea and matcha may reduce the risk of liver disease. There is evidence that drinking green tea may help reduce the risk of liver cancer in particular.
But here's something very important . Some green tea supplements on the market can cause liver damage if taken in excess. Therefore, it's safer to drink reliable, high-quality matcha powder or pure green tea instead of using such things. It's a must to talk to your doctor before using any supplement.
4. Help protect against cancer?
The catechins in matcha, especially (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) ( EGCG) , have been found to have some ability to protect cells from DNA damage and control the growth of cancer cells. Although this has been confirmed in animal studies, further research is needed to know exactly how this affects humans.
5. Also good for dental and oral health
The EGCG compound in matcha can control the growth of bacteria that cause plaque and cavities on our teeth. Not only that, but laboratory tests have found that matcha is more effective than mints and chewing gum at reducing bad breath.
| Nutrition in half a teaspoon (1 gram) of matcha | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 3 |
| Protein | 1 gram |
| Fat | 0 grams |
| Carbohydrates | 0 grams |
| Fiber | 1 gram |
| Sugar | 0 grams |
As you can see, matcha powder alone is very low in calories and sugar. But you should also keep in mind that when you add milk, sugar, and honey to it, these nutritional values change.
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Check Availability →How to make delicious matcha at home?
You can now buy matcha powder in supermarkets, health food stores, or online. There are three main grades of these.
| Grade | Description and use |
|---|---|
| Cooking Grade | This is the cheapest type. It is good for making things like cakes and biscuits, and for cooking. |
| Premium Grade | This type of tea, made from the leaves at the top of the tea tree, is very good to drink. |
| Ceremonial Grade | This is the highest quality and most flavorful type, made from the finest tea leaves. This is what is used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Choose this if you want the best nutrition and flavor. |
Simple method of making matcha tea:
Making matcha tea is very easy.
1. First, boil some water.
2. Put a teaspoon or two of matcha powder (depending on how spicy you like it) into a cup.
3. Add some hot water to it and beat with a special matcha whisk made from bamboo (or a small milk frother) until it foams well.
4. If desired, add a little honey or sugar for sweetness.
Not just tea, there are many other ways!
- Add some matcha powder to the fruit smoothie you're making.
- Mix it into your morning oats or yogurt.
- Add some to your homemade salad dressing.
- Sprinkle some on top of the popcorn.
💡 Take-Home Message
- Matcha is a much stronger and more nutritious drink than regular green tea because we drink the entire tea leaf.
- The powerful antioxidants contained in matcha, especially catechins, may benefit heart health, brain function, and the entire body.
- Do not use supplements that claim to contain 'Macha' or 'Green Tea' on the market without medical advice. Instead, it is safer to use high-quality, pure Matcha powder.
- Matcha is not just a tea. You can add it to various foods like smoothies, yogurt, and cakes to reap its benefits.
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