Recently, matcha has gained a lot of buzz. Some may think of it as just a simple leaf. But others, including myself, consider it a lifestyle. It’s the perfect sidekick for when you are the ultimate girl boss. When I’m on my grind at school, a matcha latte by my side makes me all the more productive and calmer – and obviously, tastes amazing.
Matcha is 100% powdered green tea with high antioxidant power and nutrition benefits. However, unlike traditional green tea, matcha contains more caffeine and antioxidants that are typically present in the former.
Matcha has benefits that lay in aiding in focus. L-theanine is an amino acid that is found in abundance in high quality matcha. L-theanine boosts the production of alpha waves in the brain, responsible for encouraging relaxation and increased alertness. One study even found that matcha caused improvements in attention when participants performed cognitive tests (Dietz, 2017). Additionally a study found that consuming matcha green tea increased working memory of the participants. Specifically, MRI scans of patients revealed that as a result of drinking matcha, there was increased interaction and connectivity between the parietal lobe and the frontal lobe (Schmidt, 2014).
After consuming coffee, you may notice a bad taste in your mouth. Unfortunately, you are a victim of “coffee breath.” Since coffee is so acidic, bacteria reproduces faster in your mouth. However, matcha green tea has antibacterial properties that would eliminate any possibility of the horrid coffee breath. Matcha contains high concentrations of catechins which promote oral health by killing the bacteria that cause dental plaque (Gower).
Catechins in matcha have numerous other effects that lay outside the realm of oral health. Catechins have roles in maintaining DNA. They can help DNA strands by protecting them from damage and can act as tumor suppressors. Researchers found that EGCG, a type of catechin, can suppress tumor proliferation and induce cancer cell death.
Overall, including matcha in your diet can be very beneficial. Rich in antioxidants, matcha helps you think more clearly and reduce disease risk. It’s a great deactivator of free radicals and therefore has impactful anti-inflammatory properties.
References
Dietz, C., Dekker, M., & Piqueras-Fiszman, B. (2017). An intervention study on the effect of matcha tea, in drink and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance. Food Research International, 99, 72–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2017.05.002
Gower, E. (n.d.). 8 Key Reasons to Drink Matcha for Optimal Health. Breakaway Matcha. https://breakawaymatcha.com/blogs/journal/8-key-reasons-to-drink-matcha-for-optimal-health#:~:text=Matcha%20supports%20healthy%20teeth%20and,cavity%20formation%20and%20periodontal%20disease.
Schmidt, A., Hammann, F., Wölnerhanssen, B., Meyer-Gerspach, A. C., Drewe, J., Beglinger, C., & Borgwardt, S. (2014). Green tea extract enhances parieto-frontal connectivity during working memory processing. Psychopharmacology, 231(19), 3879–3888. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3526-1
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