The Great Green Hulk: Matcha

Matcha, literally meaning 'powdered tea, are green tea leaves that have been ground up, so you are receiving the full quality of the leaf! Matcha is known for its many health properties and is slowly gaining popularity in  western cultures.

(warning: this blog post gets a little science-y, but I'm going to try to break it down so it all makes sense!) 

One of the main things that you may hear about Matcha is that it is full of antioxidants!

• Many people know this word, know that it is good for us, but don't necessarily know WHAT it is! Basically, a molecule, during metabolism (natural chemical processes) needs to maintain the right amount of electrons, if it loses one (an electron) when its not supposed to, it can turn into a free radical! Free radicals can be very bad in excess, antioxidants give an extra electron to the molecule that lost one! This neutralizes the molecule and woolah! All better!

Free Radicals: What do they do? Why are they bad? Where do they come from?

• Free Radicals are made, and a chain of reaction occurs. This chain of reaction can damage DNA or cell membranes. The cell could then die or function poorly. The body has ways to fight off these radicals on its own, but it can only do so much. Micronutrients vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C  are the main 3 vitamins that help the body fight off the radicals, as do Phytochemicals.

• Free radicals can promote:

  • cancer

  • heart disease

  • Parkinsons

  • weight gain

  • other chronic diseases

  • etc.

The Western diet doesn't contain too many antioxidants (due to highly processed foods, not enough fruit and veggie consumption, etc).  While free radicals can occur naturally by the own bodies processes, many lifestyle habits are known to promote them as well. 

• cigarette smoke/pollution/radiation

• stress

• diet (alcohol,unhealthy fats, high glycemic foods (foods that raise blood sugar)

• Too much exposure to sunlight (wear your sunscreen!!!)

• etc.

Heres the main idea

Green tea contains something called Catechins. Catechins are a type of antioxidant (stabilize free radicals) stemming from a class of phytochemicals (natural compounds found in plants) called Flavonoids.

Your 'run of the mill' Tazo Green Tea Bags contain Catechins yes! However- Matcha contains 137 x MORE than those tea bags! 

Some fun studies!!!!

(take these with a grain of salt, and remember- science isn't definitive PROOF, it simply finds evidence that can help support hypotheses) 

One article suggests:

Daily consumption of tea containing 690 mg catechins for 12 wk reduced body fat, which suggests that the ingestion of catechins might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity

While another has found evidence that

These results suggest that Matcha protects against hepatic and renal damage through the suppression of renal AGE accumulation, by decreases in hepatic glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels, and by its antioxidant activities.

• some terms to help understand this study...

  • Hepatic=liver and Renal=Kidney

  • AGE accumulation = play a pivotal role in developing chronic diseases

• If you're interested in learning more about free radicals, antioxidants click here

Matcha does contain Caffeine, but it also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that has been shown to help relax the mind without inducing drowsiness, as well as possibly reducing blood pressure

• There has been evidence to support that caffeine with L-Theanine is much better than caffeine alone. How is it better?

  • less headaches

  • higher 'alert' reporting

  • faster reaction time

  • etc.

Want a tasty way to enjoy this antioxidant filled power punch? Heres a recipe for a Matcha Protein Shake! 

• It'll give you the protein you need to stay full and create muscle, as well as the caffeine/L-theanine combo to help give you a calm focus.

Do you have a favorite Matcha recipe?