Is Chlorella Tested As Thoroughly As Matcha
Those results are often contradicting previous research for chlorella, whereas matcha powder tea has a robust amount of medical research pointing towards the possibility of many amazing benefits.
Which to Choose: Weighing the pros and cons of chlorella, its not significantly more nutritious than matcha green tea, in fact some vitamins are stronger in matcha. Furthermore, matcha is suggested as safe as much as you want to consume each day, and that is simply not the case for chlorella.
One of the most important things to keep in mind, is that chlorella does not have the amino-acid L-theanine, like matcha powder does. That means its unlikely to offer a mood-boost and energy boost each day something matcha powder does very well.
Matcha May Improve Heart Health
Stay calm for this: Matcha green tea can help protect you from a heart attack or stroke* and matcha green tea powder may be much more effective than steeped green tea when it comes to heart health . Introducing matcha green tea into your regular diet may significantly lower your risk of having a stroke or heart attack.Of course, matcha isnt all you need for a healthy heart. Experts recommend a healthy and regular eating pattern that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish, and foods that are low in sugar, fat, sodium and cholesterol. Eating right and exercise are key to a healthy heart!
Matcha Green Tea Has Antiviral Properties
Matcha was among the different food substances studied in a 2011 research, which showed that this green tea product has enough phytochemicals to act as an anti-retroviral agent. The various food substances were tested against HIV, and matcha was found to be among those that interfered with the ability of the virus to replicate.
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Matcha Green Tea Helps Increase Cognitive Performance
A team of scientists measured how matcha, in both drink and snack bar products, affected a persons mood and cognitive performance. The results showed that matcha in drink form helps improve a persons spatial working memory and delayed picture recognition. It also showed that realistic doses of matcha can provide a moderate speed boost to ones attention span and secondary memory.
Japanese Green Tea Has Nutritional Antioxidants
In early May, young tea leaves are harvested by hand and individually selected for further processing. The leaves are then steamed at high temperatures for 20-30 seconds. The heat halts the activity of enzymes responsible for oxidization and fermentation and allows the leaf to maintain its natural green color. Enzymatic activity is also responsible for converting the beneficial polyphenols into less healthy compounds. Because the steaming process stops this enzymatic reaction shortly after harvest, tea leaves used to make matcha tea powder retain all their nutritional polyphenols and antioxidants.
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Adverse Effects Of Green Tea
Although green tea has several beneficial effects on health, the effects of green tea and its constituents may be beneficial up to a certain dose yet higher doses may cause some unknown adverse effects. Moreover, the effects of green tea catechins may not be similar in all individuals. EGCG of green tea extract is cytotoxic, and higher consumption of green tea can exert acute cytotoxicity in liver cells, a major metabolic organ in the body . Another study found that higher intake of green tea might cause oxidative DNA damage of hamster pancreas and liver . Yun et al. clarified that EGCG acts as a pro-oxidant, rather than an antioxidant, in pancreatic cells in vivo. Therefore, high intake of green tea may be detrimental for diabetic animals to control hyperglycemia. At a high dose , green tea extract induced a thyroid enlargement in normal rats . This high-level treatment modified the plasma concentrations of the thyroid hormones. However, drinking even a very high dietary amount of green tea would be unlikely to cause these adverse effects in humans.
Vitamin Content Comparison Of Spirulina To Matcha
Like spirulina, matcha also has high levels of certain b-vitamins, vitamins A and E, and many other essential vitamins. Nutrients which most of us will gladly take more of.
As a fortifying dietary source, matcha powder is equal, if not more suitable than spirulina it also doesnt carry the same contraindications as the freshwater algae.
- Its said that those with blood-clotting medication and other medicines may need to stay away from spirulina.
Which to choose: Nutrition-wise, matcha is comparable if not generally more recommended/more nutritious than spirulina. Health-wise? Many of the possible benefits of spirulina are not fully understood, unlike matcha powder which has hundreds of research studies behind it.
- Matcha powder also isnt known to concentrate certain contaminants like microcystins and heavy metals as spirulina is reported to.
Key point: Its also thought to be safe to enjoy as much matcha as you want, something that cannot be said about spirulina.
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It Traditionally Involves Meditation
The preparation of matcha is the focus of Japanese tea ceremonies, and it has long been associated with Zen. This is likely one reason its becoming so popular, as meditation is becoming more and more mainstream. Because Im blown away by the research on the health and weight loss benefits of mindfulness meditation, I included an entire chapter about this practice in my book Slim Down Now, and I recorded a five-minute guided meditation video on my website.
I believe that if preparing and sipping matcha becomes a way for you to slow down and be in the moment, its benefits will extend far beyond the antioxidants it providesbecause meditation, in any form, has myriad rewards. It’s been shown to reduce cortisol , lower inflammation , curb impulsive eating, lower blood pressure, and boost self-esteem and compassion.
Tough Day The Green Stuff Can Help You Focus
Matcha green tea powder doesnt contain as much caffeine as coffee or normal black tea does, but theres still a naturally occurring amount in the plant.
It also contains more theanine, an amino acid, than any other hot drink, and when combined with caffeine, the result is a winning concentration combination!
Theanine works with caffeine in a positive manner and alters the way it interacts with the body and brain.
It avoids the come-down you can experience after a high dose of caffeine and instead maintains an alertness level which gives improved brain function, without feeling manic or hyperactive.
Furthermore, theanine promotes alpha wave activity in the brain, which reduces stress levels and induces relaxation something we all need once in a while!
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What Is Matcha Tea
Matcha is a type of green tea made by taking young tea leaves and grinding them into a bright green powder. The powder is then whisked with hot water. This is different from regular green tea, where the leaves are infused in water, then removed. Drinking brewed green tea is a bit like boiling spinach, throwing away the spinach and just drinking the water, says Louise Cheadle, co-author of The Book of Matcha and co-owner of the tea company teapigs. You will get some of the nutrients, but youre throwing away the best bit. With matcha, youre drinking the whole tea leaves.
Matcha leaves are grown on green tea bushes kept under shade. The shade increases the amount of chlorophyll content in the leaves, which is what makes them bright green and full of nutrients. The leaves are picked by hand and the stems and veins are removed. According to Cheadle, the leaves are traditionally ground by granite stones into a super fine powder. It takes an hour to grind the leaves, and its done in the dark to protect the nutrients, she says.
The finest matcha comes from Japan, where it has been grown for centuries and forms part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, she adds.
Matcha Is High In Antioxidants
Matcha contains a class of antioxidants called Catechins, which are natural chemical compounds found in the leaves of the plant. The longer you steep the tea, the more antioxidants you will receive in every sip. Why are antioxidants good for us? They help stabilize free radicals that are known to damage cells, lower your immune system and increase aging. Our tip: To avoid getting sick this winter, try drinking more matcha.
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It Can Help With Focus Concentration And Mood
At the same time as providing a great boost of energy, matchas L-theanine content also helps with focus and concentration. L-theanine is known for its ability to boost alpha waves in the brain that promote a sense of calm but alertness allowing for focus and concentration. This gentler, sustained energy release is why matcha gained such favour during the Zen Buddhist monk length meditations that may last for hours at a time. It also makes it a beautiful alternative energy boost for those who are caffeine sensitive or who dont take well to coffee.
Matcha Is Easy To Prepare And Enjoy
Did you know that matcha is super easy to make?
Traditional Japanese matcha tea is made by sifting 12 teaspoons of matcha powder into your cup using a long bamboo spoon. From there, you simply add 2 ounces of hot water and use a bamboo whisk to blend the water and matcha powder. This creates a foamy tea that can be poured into your cup and enjoyed.
Depending on your preferred consistency, you can adjust the ratio of matcha powder to hot water. For thinner tea, you can put in a half teaspoon of matcha powder and add 34 ounces of hot water.
There are several ways to prepare matcha, so you can choose the method you enjoy best. Slightly sweet in flavor, matcha can be enjoyed with water, added to milk for a latte, combined with something sweet, or used as a bright ingredient for baked goods.
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Hello Glow Its Literally Loaded Antioxidants
Matcha green tea powder is rich in natural antioxidants called catechins.
Catechins are naturally occurring in matcha and work by helping the body tackle free radicals, which, if left unchecked, can cause cell damage and even lead to chronic illness. As matcha green tea is consumed as a powder, the individual consuming it is able to absorb the nutrients from the whole leaf.
A chemical profile of matcha green tea powder has shown that it contains up to137 times more catechins than regular green tea!
The regular consumption of antioxidants, such as the catechins within matcha green tea powder, has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, neurological disease and pulmonary disease, but it also promotes youthful and healthy skin.
Winner!The antioxidants within matcha green tea powder can help protect against skin damage and allow the skin to renew and rejuvenate.
Youll have glowing, dewy, healthy skin in no time at all once the level of antioxidants you consume increases and who could complain about that?!
What Is Matcha Green Tea Powder
The word matcha is a linguistic hybrid: formed partly from a Japanese word and partly from a Chinese word.
It combines the Japanese Matsu, which translates as to rub, with the Chinese cha, the word for tea so roughly translates as rubbed tea.
This makes sense when you consider that matcha green tea isnt prepared in the same way other teas are.
Its made from the leaves of the same plant as other teas, the Camellia Sinensis, but is grown in the shade, which encourages it to produce more caffeine and theanine than it would otherwise.
Covering the plants also makes the leaves a darker green. These leaves, once plucked, are rolled up and dried out, before being milled and ground.
Matcha green tea powder is still ground in a traditional manner, which involves a lengthy process that doesnt allow the millstones to get warm otherwise, the aroma and flavour of the tea can change.
It can take about an hour to grind just 30g of matcha green tea powder!
Rather than being used in tea bags like the more traditional tea powders most of us are used to, matcha green tea powder is brewed directly into hot water in its powdered form.
Its usually sieved first and is then suspended and stirred into hot water to make the tea and then drunk when blended properly.
It is said that to be prepared correctly, there should be no matcha green tea powder on the sides of the cup, and no lumps left in the liquid.
Sound like it could be your cup of tea?
One way or another, it should be!
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Ward Off Oxidative Stress
Free radicals are bad guys and are everywhere in our body, in the air, we breathe, and in the foods, we eat. When the antioxidants in our body fail to fight these bad guys, oxidative stress occurs and wreaks havoc both internally and externally. Luckily, we have Matcha tea and other superfoods that are loaded with antioxidants.
Catechins in Matcha tea is found effective in inhibiting the free radicals. Thus, consuming Matcha tea protects the body from chronic conditions associated with oxidative stress such as cancer, inflammatory disorders, Alzheimers disease, and heart disease.
Matchais Rich In Antioxidants And Caffeine
The health benefits of matcha extend even further than amino acids. Matcha also contains high levels of antioxidants that can reduce the amount of free radicals in the body.
Free radicals naturally occur in the body and can be dangerous at higher than average levels. Free radicals in high numbers are known to cause damage to healthy cells and are sometimes related to the development of cancer cells.
Exposure to certain toxins, such as cigarette smoke or smog, can be a factor in an unusually high levels of free radicals. The human body makes it’s own antioxidants however, the body cannot produce enough antioxidants on it’s own to combat free radicals.
According to the experts at Cancer.gov, consuming foods and beverages rich in antioxidants helps keep free radicals at bay.
One cup of Matcha green tea has the same amount of antioxidants as 10 cups of regular green tea!
One of the other benefits of matcha is that it contains caffeine. Green tea also contains caffeine, but not nearly as much as matcha. The caffeine in matcha equates to that found in a cup of regular coffee.
Caffeine has been found to increase the memory. This is particularly true for adults when caffeine is consumed during the afternoon, when most feel sluggish.
What’s more, mice used in an alzheimers study performed at the University of South Florida, who were bred to develop said condition, were able to regain their memory after being given the equivalent of 5 cups of coffee per day.
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The Potential Beauty Benefits Of Matcha
Because matcha is a natural powerful antioxidant, it can also help beautify your skin. Prepare a homemade matcha facial mask using ingredients in your kitchen.
For example, combine 1 tsp of matcha with 1 tsp of honey. Apply the mask to your face and rinse off after a few minutes to moisturize your skin.
Matcha Is A Special Form Of Green Tea
Matcha literally means “powdered tea.” When you order traditional green tea, components from the leaves get infused into the hot water, then the leaves are discarded. With matcha, youre drinking the actual leaves, which have been finely powdered and made into a solution, traditionally by mixing about a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water , which is then whisked with a bamboo brush until it froths.
Unlike traditional green tea, matcha preparation involves covering the tea plants with shade cloths before theyre harvested. This triggers the growth of leaves with better flavor and texture. The leaves are hand selected, steamed briefly to stop fermentation, then dried and aged in cold storage, which deepens the flavor. The dried leaves are then stone-ground into a fine powder.
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Chemical Composition Of Japanese Matcha Green Tea
The health benefits of green tea arise from the presence of natural antioxidants , such as polyphenols: a wide range of compounds accounting for as much as 30% of the dry weight of green tea . Polyphenols are believed to be exceptionally powerful antioxidants, with effects comparable to those of vitamins, such as vitamins C and E, carotene and tocopherol . The amounts of health-promoting active substances contained in tea beverages depend of the type of tea, the amount of tea leaves per portion, brewing temperature and time .
Green Matcha Powder Vs Grass Powders For Weight Loss
Another popular reason that some people choose to use wheatgrass powder or barley grass powder, is because of the reported weight-loss benefits. The evidence here is tedious, as some research doesnt easily control for all the variables few studies actually demonstrate elevated energy-expenditure, rather than simply reduced caloric intake whereas matcha powder is actually studied to increase energy expenditure.
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The Top 7 Matcha Green Tea Benefits
Need a reason to try matcha? How about 7? Fill your cup up with this green tea to experience these matcha benefits…
MATCHA BENEFIT #1 – It’s high in antioxidants.
Good things come in small packages and tea leaves are no exception!Matcha green tea has one of the highest antioxidant ratings. The Oxygen Radical Absorbence Capacity value is 1348 units per gram. Thats 13x the antioxidants in pomegranates and 15x the antioxidants in blueberries.Studies have shown the high antioxidant content in matcha tea can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.Matcha green tea also contains a class of antioxidants known as catechins. And its particularly high in epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG 3 times more than other green teas.
MATCHA BENEFIT #2 – It protects against some cancers.
Speaking of EGCG, multiple studies have shown this catechin is protective against many types of cancers.
According to the National Cancer Institute , EGC, ECG, and EC are also powerful cancer fighters.
MATCHA BENEFIT #3 – It’s calming.
MATCHA BENEFIT #4 – It can help improve your focus and concentration.
MATCHA BENEFIT #5 – It can help improve your heart.
Green tea is one of the best drinks for heart health and matcha, which is a kind of green tea, is no exception!Heres how green tea can benefit your heart:
MATCHA BENEFIT #6 – It can help you lose weight.
MATCHA BENEFIT #7 – It can help you improve your physical performance.