If you have recently been to a coffee or tea shop, then you may have seen a popular green powder that is made into delicious hot or iced drinks. This green powder is called matcha and it has increased in popularity over the past few years. It can now be found served in multiple ways including matcha shots, lattes, teas, and even baked into desserts!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a green tea powder that is derived from a plant called Camellia Sinensis, which is originally from Asia, but has also been introduced around the world. Even though matcha and other green tea varieties come from the same plant, there are some distinct health benefits of matcha that set it apart from regular green teas that make it a great item to introduce into your day.
The next time you are looking for a drink to warm you up on a chilly day, or an iced version to cool you down on a hot day, remember the following health benefits for trying out a delicious matcha based drink.
Full of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are natural substances that not only help protect against chronic conditions – including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease – but also assists in preventing any damage to cells that may be caused by factors such as pollution or physical inactivity. Matcha is rich in antioxidants and therefore by having a serving of matcha in your day, you are naturally increasing the amount of antioxidants you have and gaining this wonderful benefit!
Maintains a Healthy Heart
Not only will you find matcha made into a bright and tasty drink, but you will also be increasing your heart health as you sip and enjoy! Multiple studies have shown that matcha, similarly to other green teas, reduces the levels of total cholesterol in your body. It also specifically reduces the amount of LDL cholesterol; the type of cholesterol in which you want to try and limit excess in your body. Overall, enjoying matcha may provide you with the amazing benefit of reducing risk of heart disease and stroke.
Easy to Prepare
The great news about matcha is not only are there multiple health benefits but it is also very easy to prepare yourself! You can purchase matcha powder at multiple outlets, including health food stores, vitamin stores, or even online! In order to make a traditional matcha tea, just sift 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder into a cup, add a few ounces of hot water, and whisk it up. If you would like to change the consistency to your liking, you can always adjust the amount of powder or water you add. If you want to use matcha in a few other ways, try adding it into a smoothie or making a matcha latte. You can also consider using dairy alternatives when choosing your latte milk – such as almond or coconut milk – that will leave you and your digestive tract feeling great as traditional dairy options may cause bloating and stomach irritation. Whichever way you choose to prepare the matcha, the health benefits and delicious taste will remain!
Matcha and green tea both come from the same plant, but since matcha is more concentrated there are some distinct health benefits of drinking it. Matcha is full of antioxidants, helps keep your heart healthy, and the best of all it is easy to prepare! If you are looking to change up your drink of choice, keep this option in the front of your mind!