What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Matcha
When it comes to green tea, do you exclusively brew loose-leaf or do you like to shake it up and drink matcha as well?
Matcha is made from finely ground green tea leaves and comes in two grades: ceremonial (for drinking) and culinary (for cooking/baking). Whether you make a matcha latte or add it to a plant-based smoothie, the key is to drink it regularly to reap as many health benefits as possible. Read on to learn five potential health benefits you could receive if you drink matcha on the reg, and for even more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
It may protect your liver.
You may not realize it, but the liver carries out a lot of key functions in the body, including metabolizing drugs and flushing out toxins. Matcha may actually help to support your liver. For example, one study that was conducted on rats with diabetes revealed that after about four months of consumption, matcha helped to prevent damage to both the liver and kidneys. Of course, more research is needed on humans in order to determine if it would have the same positive effect.
Here are The 7 Best Matcha Powders on Amazon, According to an Expert.
It may suppress tumor growth.
Anna Kavaliunas, holistic coach and co-author of "Matcha: A Lifestyle Guide" previously told Eat This, Not That! that matcha contains about 140 times more of an antioxidant known as EGCG than normal green tea. Why is this important? A new study suggests that this compound in matcha and green tea may be able to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors and even repair DNA that's been damaged.
Support brain function.
Is it any surprise that the tea could be beneficial for cognitive function? Various studies have linked improvements in brain function to caffeine consumption, from faster reaction times to enhanced memory, however, matcha may offer something a bit more unique than other caffeinated beverages. Like regular green tea, matcha contains the compound L-theanine, which could produce a calming effect in the brain and decrease stress levels.
Boost heart health.
Much like loose leaf green tea, matcha can help reduce bad cholesterol levels (LDL) as well as triglycerides—which is a type of fat found in your blood. More importantly, it may also prevent LDL from oxidating, which could play a role in staving off heart disease. Next time you get matcha lattes with your pal, cheers to good heart health!
Increase fat burn.
Not only could switching to matcha tea over a sugar-sweetened green tea potentially help you drop pounds, but it may also help you rev up fat-burning processes. According to one small 2008 study, taking green tea extract during moderate exercise was linked to a 17% increase in fat burning. Since matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, it should yield the same effects.
For more, be sure to check out Surprising Side Effects of Drinking Green Tea, According to Science.
