Matcha green tee comes in different grades with the ceremonial the highest. Ceremonial grade matcha is a form of powdered green tea that traditionally played a part in the Japanese tea ceremony. Ceremonial grade means matcha but the highest quality. It has recently started appearing at all health food stores, specialty tea stores, online and in cafés and coffee shops because of increased demands thanks to its multiple health benefits: such as reducing the risk of heart disease, helping to prevent diabetes, boosting brain functions, reducing the risks of certain cancers, and promoting weight loss.
In the ceremonial grade, the matcha powder should be the only ingredient with no artificial sweetener, added sugar, or any other ingredient that may reduce the concentration of the polyphenols naturally contained in Camellia sinensis.
In this post, you will learn 15 of the many health benefits of ceremonial matcha powder.
- Improves Skin Health and Radiance
One of the best known matcha powder benefits is the fact it beautifies the skin inside out. In addition to the tea and supplement, you can use the powder to make a matcha face mask to reduce aging signs such as dry skin, lines and wrinkles. The catechins contained in matcha trap and deactivate free radicals in the skin, which, in returns, slows down aging signs, fights acne and symptoms of rosacea. Regular consumption of This amazing great tea may reduce the redness and paleness of the skin, blotchiness and age spots, improve Your Complexion by keeping it fresh and healthy, shrink pores and reduce the production of oil in people with oily skin.
- Fights Bad Breath and Dental Cavities
The main cause of bad breath is bacterial overgrowth or infection which breakdown sulfur-containing amino acids into foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds or bad odor. When compared to mints and other foods, green tea showed the largest reduction of bad breath. Regular consumption of matcha helps keep your gum and teeth strong and healthy, and reduces the formation of cavities by preventing plaque build-up and overgrowth of bacteria.
- Multivitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals are crucial to our well-being. The problem most multivitamins and minerals supplements on the market are synthetic; they are poorly assimilated by the body. A cup of matcha tea can provide your body almost all the vitamins and minerals it needs: Vitamins A (carotene), B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), C, E, K, as well as potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and iron. Matcha also contains Protein, amino acids, fluorine, flavonoids and lipids.
- May Relieve Autoimmune Uveitis
Uveitis is inflammation that causes damage in a part of the eye called the uvea but damage can occur in other parts of the eye. This inflammation usually happens when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in your eyes or the immune system is trying to fight an eye infection. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes and can range from a mild case to a chronic condition causing redness, pain or loss of vision.
- Promotes Weight Loss
When you look for weight loss supplements there is a good chance that you will see that a large portion of them contain green tea or green tea extract as one of the ingredients. This is because green tea is known for its ability to help you lose weight. There are studies that show that green tea speeds up the metabolism which also increases energy to aid in weight loss. One small study showed that when people were doing moderate exercise and taking green tea extract, they increased their fat burning by 17%.
Although the studies were not done specifically on matcha powder, you can safely conclude that you can receive the same benefit from matcha as it comes from the same plant as green tea. At least 11 studies have been reviewed that show green tea can reduce body weight and help maintain weight loss.
- Reduces The Risk of Heart Disease
“Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation is worsening every year. From 1990 to 2019, incidences of cardiovascular disease almost doubled around the world, rising from 271 million to 523 million, and death tolls from 12.1 million to 18.6 million in 2019. Matcha can help.
Studies that included large populations have suggested that a high intake of matcha has been linked to lowering risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Some studies also suggest that matcha powder may reduce other heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol levels.
- May Help Prevent type 2 diabetes
One randomized clinical trial found that there were significant reductions in several risk factors for diabetes when people drank four cups of green tea every day. These reductions included systolic blood pressure, body weight and body mass index (BMI).
- Improves Brain Functions and Learning Aptitude
Caffeine consumption has been linked to improvements in brain function in several studies. Matcha powder packs in 35 mg of caffeine in about gram or per ½ teaspoon, much less than coffee. These studies have cited that ingesting matcha powder showed improved attention, caused faster reaction times and enhanced memory. One of the studies showed that older people also had improved brain function which is great because as we age our brains are not as sharp.
One of the compounds in matcha powder called L-theanine alters the effects of caffeine and promotes alertness to help avoid an energy crash that normally follows caffeine consumption. The researchers discovered the mental state examination scores of the participants have improved considerably after drinking 2 grams of matcha green tea every day for 3 months. If only we had Matcha in high school.
- Reduces Stress and anxiety
The L-theanine present in matcha powder may also help decrease stress levels and induce relaxation. It is a rare amino acid, yet found abundantly in matcha, that crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes a feeling of relaxation while reducing mental stress and anxiety. L-theanine not only helps promote mental calmness but also overall relaxation.
- Boosts Energy
Matcha has caffeine but not as stimulant as in coffee. The combination of l-theanine with caffeine produces a stable and extended boost of energy without unpleasant side effects commonly associated with commercial stimulants such as:
- Sleep problems.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Headaches and stomachaches.
- Moodiness and irritability.
- Improves Concentration and Cognition
Consuming foods and beverages rich in L-theanine may induce a state of alertness and well-being. A study in 2017 with 20 adult males consuming 200 milligrams of L-theanine show improved selective attention and cognitive abilities. The effect proved to be stronger in combination with 160 milligrams of caffeine. A review of studies 49 studies in humans found that plant compounds in matcha tea may improve mood and performance. For example, L-theanine alone promoted relaxation and calmness, while caffeine improved performance and energy.
- Fights Against Free Radicals
Matcha powder is rich in catechins which are natural antioxidant compounds. Our bodies need antioxidants to protect our cells from damage and chronic diseases. These antioxidants help fight and stabilize free radicals. Regular tea is normally steeped in water while matcha powder is added to hot water can you ingest more nutrients from the leaves. This tends to give you more catechins antioxidants than simply steeping green tea leaves in water. It has been estimated that matcha powder have 130 times more catechins than other types of green tea. By including matcha powder in your diet you can decrease your chances of developing several disorders and chronic diseases.
- Protects the Liver and Kidneys
The liver is a vital organ in order for us to stay healthy. Its job is to process nutrients, metabolize drugs and flush toxins from the body. Some studies have found that matcha powder may help protect the health of your liver. One 12-week study shows that green tea extract significantly reduced enzyme levels in the liver. There was another study where they gave diabetic rats matcha powder for 16 weeks and it prevented damage to the liver and the kidneys. There have been over 15 studies that showed drinking green tea is associated to the decreased risk of liver disease.
- May Prevent Certain Cancers
Matcha powder is packed with health-promoting nutrients and some of them have been linked to cancer prevention in test tube and animal studies. One study showed green tea extract decreased tumor size and slowed the growth of breast cancer cells in rats. Matcha contains a catechin that is especially high in epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that has been shown to have powerful anti-cancer properties. EGCG was linked to killing of prostate cancer cells and effective against liver, lung, bladder and skin cancer in several other studies (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3). EGCG may help prevent cancer by protecting cells from DNA damage by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Alleviates Arthritis
Matcha benefits also include arthritis relief. Being rich in polyphenols – organic micronutrients that naturally occur in plants that have strong anti-inflammatory effects, it helps preserve cartilage and bone and alleviates inflammatory arthritis.
In addition to polyphenols, green tea also antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) which reduces inflammation, slows cartilage destruction and inhibit joint damage in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In a study conducted by a group of researchers on dietary substances capable of preventing or reducing the onset and severity of arthritis, it was found Matcha may be useful in the prevention of onset and severity of arthritis.
Matcha is bursting with health benefits. Remember that it comes from the same plant as green tea and made from the entire leaf which packs in higher concentrations of antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds. It is effortless to incorporate matcha powder into your diet and start receiving many health benefits.
Thank you for staying with us until the end.
