Matcha Tea Boosts Your Health In 7 Amazing Ways

Matcha tea shots, lattes, teas, and even desserts have recently gained popularity, appearing in everything from health food stores to coffee shops.

Matcha is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant as well. It is grown differently and has a distinct nutrient profile.

To avoid direct sunlight, tea farmers cover their plants 20-30 days before harvesting matcha.

The plant produces more chlorophyll, contains more amino acids, and is darker green.

To make matcha, tea leaves are ground into a fine powder after removing the stems and veins.

Matcha contains nutrients from the entire tea leaf, resulting in a higher level of caffeine and antioxidants than green tea.

Matcha and its components have been found to have a wide range of benefits, including protecting the liver, promoting heart health, and even aiding in weight loss.

These seven health benefits of matcha tea are backed by science

Antioxidant-Rich

As a natural antioxidant, matcha is rich in catechins, a chemical in tea plants that act as natural antioxidants.

Antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals, which damage cells and cause chronic illnesses.

Adding matcha powder to hot water produces tea containing the entire leaf’s nutrients. 

It contains more catechins and antioxidants than simply steeping green tea leaves in water.

Matcha contains 137 times more catechins than other types of green tea, according to one estimate (1Trusted Source).

According to one study, giving mice matcha supplements reduced free radical damage and enhanced antioxidant activity (2Trusted Source).

Matcha may help prevent cell damage and lower your risk for several chronic diseases if you include it in your diet (3Trusted Source).

In Short

A concentrated amount of antioxidants in matcha may reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease.

2. Protects The Liver

The liver flushes out toxins, metabolizes drugs, and processes nutrients, among its many functions.

According to some studies, the health of your liver may be protected by matcha.

Researchers found that matcha prevented kidney and liver damage in diabetic rats for 16 weeks (4Trusted Source).

In another study, 80 people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease received 500 mg of green tea extract or a placebo every day for 90 days.

The levels of liver enzymes were significantly reduced by green tea extract after 12 weeks. 

A high level of these enzymes indicates liver damage (5Trusted Source).

In addition, an analysis of 15 studies proves that drinking green tea decreases liver disease risk (6Trusted Source).

However, it is essential to remember that other factors may also play a role.

Matcha’s effects on the general population need more research, as most studies examine the effects of green tea extract on animals.

In Short

Several studies have shown that matcha can prevent liver damage and reduce the risk of liver disease.

Further studies are needed to examine the effects on humans in general.

3. Enhances Brain Function

Several components of matcha may enhance brain function, according to some research.

One 23-person research examined how people performed in various tests designed to assess brain performance.

Several people drank matcha tea or a bar with 4 grams of matcha, while others drank placebos.

Compared to a placebo, matcha improved attention, reaction time, and memory (7Trusted Source).

A small study found that 2 grams of green tea powder daily for two months improved brain function in older adults (8Trusted Source).

A half teaspoon (about 1 gram) of matcha powder contains 35 mg of caffeine, which is more concentrated than green tea.

Several studies have linked caffeine consumption to improved brain function, including faster reaction times, better attention, and better memory (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

Additionally, matcha contains a compound called L-theanine, which can help avoid the crash in energy levels caused by caffeine (12Trusted Source).

It has also been demonstrated that L-theanine can boost alpha wave activity in the brain, which may contribute to feelings of relaxation and a reduction in overall stress levels (13Trusted Source).

In Short

Research has shown that drinking matcha can improve a person’s attention, memory, and reaction time. Additionally, it has caffeine and L-theanine, which can improve the brain’s functioning in various ways.

4. It May Help Prevent Cancer

Matcha is filled to the gills with compounds that are beneficial to one’s health, including some associated with cancer prevention in studies conducted in test tubes and on animals.

One study found that green tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of breast cancer cells in rats (14Trusted Source).

EGCG, a type of catechin with potent anti-cancer properties, is particularly abundant in matcha.

In a test tube study, EGCG in matcha was found to kill prostate cancer cells (15Trusted Source).

Additionally, EGCG is effective against skin, lung, and liver cancers (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

It is important to remember that these studies were conducted in test tubes and on animals and looked at specific compounds that can be found in matcha. 

Additional research is required to determine how the findings of this study could apply to human beings.

In Short

Matcha compounds have been found to inhibit cancer cell growth in test tubes and animals.

5. This Supplement May Enhance Heart Health.

One-third of all deaths among people over 35 are caused by heart disease (19Trusted Source).

According to some studies, matcha may help prevent heart disease due to its similar nutrient profile.

Research has shown that green tea lowers total and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).

Furthermore, it may reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation, another cardiovascular risk factor (22Trusted Source).

Studies have also found that drinking green tea reduces stroke and heart disease risk (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).

Consuming matcha regularly and maintaining a balanced diet and leading a healthy lifestyle may help protect against disease and maintain cardiovascular health.

In Short

There is evidence that green tea and matcha can reduce several risk factors for heart disease.

6. Weight Loss Is Made Easier With This Product

If you look at the ingredients of any weight loss supplement, there is a good chance that “green tea extract” will be listed somewhere on the label.

It is common knowledge that people can shed extra pounds by consuming green tea. Studies have shown that it may help speed up the metabolism, increase the amount of energy that is expended, and help boost fat burning.

A study confirmed that taking green tea extract while participating in a moderate exercise led to a 17% increase in fat burning. (25Trusted Source).

Some other studies with 14 participants showed that taking a green tea extract supplement significantly increased the number of calories that were burned over 24 hours in comparison to taking a placebo. (26Trusted Source).

A review of 11 studies shows that drinking green tea helps lose weight and maintain it (27Trusted Source).

Even though green tea extract was the focus of most of these studies, matcha comes from the same plant and should act similarly.

In Short

Weight loss may be aided by green tea extract because it increases metabolism and fat burning.

7. Preparing Matcha Tea Is Very Simple

The exploitation of matcha’s many positive effects on one’s health is straightforward, and the resulting tea is delicious.

Traditional matcha tea is prepared by sifting one to two teaspoons, or two to four grams, of matcha powder into a cup, then adding two ounces, or 59 milliliters, of hot water and whisking the mixture with a bamboo whisk.

You can also adjust the amount of matcha powder to water in the preparation based on your preferred consistency.

To make a less concentrated tea, the powder should be reduced to half a teaspoon (1 gram) and mix it with three to four ounces (89–118 ml) of hot water.

If you want a more concentrated version, mix two teaspoons of powder (four grams) and only one ounce’s worth of water (30 ml).

You can even try making matcha lattes, puddings, or protein smoothies to increase the number of nutrients in your favorite recipes if you are particularly creative.

As is always the case, moderation is essential. Even though matcha is beneficial, drinking more does not make you healthier.

There have been reports of liver problems in some people who consumed large quantities of green tea daily. (28Trusted Source).

You may also be exposed to contaminants like pesticides, chemicals, and even arsenic in the soil where the tea plants are grown when drinking matcha (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).

An individual’s maximum tolerable intake of matcha powder is unclear. Consume matcha in moderation to stay safe.

Take advantage of matcha’s many health benefits by drinking 1–2 cups daily and looking for certified organic varieties.

In Short

Matcha can be prepared in several ways, so you can choose the one that suits you best. In addition, it can be used in a variety of recipes.

In summary,

Matcha is created from the same plant as green tea. Still, because the entire leaf is used in its production, it contains a significantly higher concentration of beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants than green tea.

According to research, matcha and its components promote weight loss and curb the risk of heart disease.

The tea is easy to make, so you can easily add it to your diet and flavor your day.