Guess how matcha we love matcha? Hint: it’s a lot.
Matcha green tea has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. You can get matcha soft serve ice cream, matcha lattes and matcha shots. We all know that it tastes delicious - but is it any good for you?
Just like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. It’s grown by farmers who cover up the leaves of their tea plants around a month before they harvest them, to avoid direct sunlight hitting the leaves. This increases the production of chlorophyll, boosts the amino acid content and gives the leaves that darker green hue that lend the tea its signature bright green colour.
Following a careful harvest, the stems and veins of the leaves are removed, they’re dried and are then ground into the powder which we call matcha. Unlike other types of green tea, matcha contains the nutrients from the entire tea leaf, which boosts the amount of caffeine, nutrients and antioxidants in the powder. It’s truly a powerhouse substance.
Innermost is ready to provide you with all the matcha your heart desires, in The Tone Capsules and The Detox Booster. If you’re inspired to add some matcha to your diet, these are great sources to do so.
High in antioxidants
First and foremost is the impressive antioxidant content of matcha, one of its main benefits. Matcha is rich in catechins, a type of plant compounds which act as natural antioxidants which can help to stabilise harmful free radicals, which can damage cells and cause chronic disease. One estimate puts matcha’s antioxidant level at 137 times greater than other types of green tea.
Increases brain function
Want to feel smarter and work faster? Matcha’s your gal. It can help you to get your to-do list finished and even boost brain function. One study of 23 people found that consuming matcha benefitted them by improving attention spans, reaction times and even memory function. Additionally, matcha is a great natural source of caffeine in much more concentrated amounts than regular green tea. It also helps you to avoid that post-caffeine slump thanks to the presence of L-theanine, which promotes alertness.
Keeps your liver in tip-top condition
The liver plays a crucial role in your body, getting rid of toxins, metabolizing medicines and processing vitamins and nutrients. Superstar matcha could help to protect the health and function of your liver.
A study gave diabetic rats matcha for four months, and discovered that it helped to prevent damage to both the liver and the kidneys. An analysis of 15 studies found that drinking green tea, of which matcha is a variety, was associated with a decreased risk of getting liver disease. While this evidence isn’t fully conclusive, it could indicate that matcha is a powerful tool for keeping livers healthy.
A weight loss tool
Green tea and matcha are renowned ingredients for helping with weight loss. They may help to speed up the metabolism, which increases the expenditure of energy and boosts the body’s ability to burn fat. A study found that taking a green tea extract supplement during exercising increased the body’s ability to burn fat by 17%, and a review of 11 studies found that green tea reduced overall body weight and helped to maintain weight loss.
Matcha is truly a fascinating ingredient, and discoveries continue to be made about its ability to help us stay healthy. Best of all, it tastes delicious and is easy to prepare. We love it so matcha!
