It seems like everywhere we look, there is a new and trendy food with all these miraculous health benefits.
Even just this week, we discovered that consuming activated charcoal could actually 'change our lives' - the jury is still out on this one.
Anyway, fo the past few months, the world has been going absolutely mad for matcha, and we decided to look into it - and see what all the hype was about.
Anyone else wondering what matcha actually is? (guilty)
Basically, it is a special form of green tea, with the word matcha literally translating to "powdered tea." With matcha, green tea leaves have been finely powdered and made into a solution - that almost looks like a science experiment.
With all that in mind, what are the benefits of matcha?
High in antioxidants
One delightful serving of matcha provides over 5 times as many antioxidants as any other food – so that's good news. Matcha contains countless antioxidants, including EGCg, which is widely recognised for its cancer fighting properties.
Calming properties (say no more)
Sometimes, we just need to take a deep breath and calm down, but it isn;t always easy. Matcha contains L-Theanine, which promotes the production of "alpha waves" in the brain that are said to induce relaxation without drowsiness. Namaste...
Increases energy levels
While all green tea naturally contains caffeine (our best friend), the energy boost received from matcha is largely due to its unique combination of other nutrients.
Boosts concentration
Not only does L-Theanine calm the soul, it also aids in the production of dopamine and serotonin. These two chemicals serve to enhance mood, improve memory, and promote better concentration – something that can benefit all of us.
Can help with weight loss
Consuming matcha has also been proven to increase the metabolism, which helps the body to burn fat about four times faster than green tea. Unlike many other diet supplements, matcha causes no negative side-effects like an increased heart rate or high blood pressure.
Improves cholesterol
Studies of different populations have shown that people who drink matcha green tea on a regular basis have lower levels of bad cholesterol, while also displaying higher levels of good cholesterol. Apparently, men who consume matcha are about 11 percent less likely to develop heart disease than those who don’t.
Oh, and incase we forgot to mention - you can put matcha in desserts, which is our idea of health.
