Matcha Tea Health Benefits, Uses And Its Side Effects
Last Updated: Sep 11, 2020
Health benefits of drinking matcha tea include improved mental alertness and clarity, stronger immune defense and detoxification. Polyphenols and catechin-rich matcha promotes relaxation and contributes beneficially in prevention. Matcha green tea helps in treatment of various medical conditions including bacterial, fungal and viral infections, cancer and type-2 diabetes. It also assists in maintaining cardiovascular health, gastrointestinal health and works as a superb energy booster.
Matcha Tea
Matcha, also known as maccha, is a type of freshly ground, emerald-green tea powder. It is a natural, organic green tea which has been the heart of the famous Japanese tea ceremony for over 900 years.
Matcha green tea is prepared from the leaves of a high-quality leaf known as tencha. The tea bushes are sheltered to avoid the exposure of direct sunlight which reduces the pace of photosynthesis and slows down the growth of the plants. This provides the leaves with a darker shade of green and stimulates the production of chlorophyll and amino acids. Unlike other green teas, leaves used for matcha tea are briefly steamed to protect them from oxidation and preserve its flavor and nutritional content.
Nutritional Value of Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is a rich source of vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.
Matcha green tea is rich in components with super antioxidant activity including polyphenols, catechins and chlorophyll. Presence of amino acids such as L-theanine and theophylline in the matcha tea makes it a multi nutrient-packed drink.
Nutritional facts Per 1 Gram
Vitamins and Minerals
Health Benefits of Matcha Tea
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of drinking matcha green tea. You can add this tea in your weight loss diet, matcha tea leaves contain antioxidant good for health. Another amazing benefit of drinking matcha green tea is that it prevents acne, skin damage from UV rays and prevent skin cancer.
We also discuss some conditions when matcha tea can offer some side effects. You can easily find this popular green tea in your local markets. You can variously consume matcha tea by adding some flavored elements that refresh your taste buds.
Matcha Tea for Cancer Patients
Matcha tea assists in the prevention of cancer attributing to its rich epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) content, which has chemopreventive properties. Multiple studies have shown that polyphenols present in matcha green tea prevents the proliferation of malignant cancerous cells, promotes induction of apoptosis and assists in the reducing the risk of developing various cancers including bladder cancer and colorectal cancer.
Matcha Green Tea Good for Immune System
Matcha tea is very useful in helping maintain a strong and healthy immune system. Matcha green tea contains a plethora of antioxidants polyphenols, EGCG, and L-theanine, which collectively contribute in boosting the immune defense of the body and help provide protection against various antigens and antibodies.
Matcha Green Tea High in Antioxidants
Matcha tea is a storehouse of natural antioxidants and polyphenols. As compared to other green teas, matcha has the highest amount of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an extremely healthful component with numerous benefits. These antioxidants seek out the oxygen free radicals in the body, and neutralize their harmful effects.
Protect your body from the occurrence of disorders or inflammations associated with oxidative stress using matcha green tea
Matcha Tea Control Type-2 Diabetes
Matcha tea has proven valuable for maintaining healthy metabolism in diabetic individuals. Matcha tea is rich in antioxidants which help in reducing the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and hepatic glucose content in diabetic individuals.
Research has shown that regular consumption of matcha tea exerts inhibitory action against renal and hepatic damage by restraining the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the kidneys.
Improves Cardiovascular Health By Drinking Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is very essential in maintaining good cardiovascular health. This compound present matcha green tea helps in keeping bad cholesterol levels low. Additionally, it also helps reduce the accumulation of lipids, and also promotes autophagy in the vascular endothelial cells.
Does Matcha Green Tea Speed Up Your Metabolism
Matcha tea contains a healthy form of caffeine, which is very different from the caffeine present in coffee. This unique form of caffeine known as theophylline sustains the energy levels without displaying any adverse effects. The slow release of energy due to theophylline helps in supporting the functionality of adrenal glands and maintains optimum hormonal levels.
Matcha Tea Gently Detoxify Body & Heavy Metals
Matcha tea contains chlorophyll compounds, which help detoxify and cleanse the body. Chlorophyll is an excellent detoxifier which helps in cleansing the blood, and also aids in maintaining the alkalinity of blood and tissues. Moreover, chlorophyll present in matcha green tea also helps in preventing the association of harmful toxins with colon walls and flushes them out of the body.
Drink Matcha Tea to Reduce Anxiety
Matcha tea works wonderfully well in providing a calming effect to the body. L-theanine, a unique amino acid present in matcha green tea possesses anti-anxiolytic properties which assist in boosting alpha waves in the brain. These alpha waves encourage relaxation and induce a profound feeling of mental clarity and a more alert state of mind.
Matcha Tea Provides Protection Against Infections
Matcha tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is very effective in fighting against various bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Research has shown that EGCG present in matcha tea binds to the lipid membrane and exerts inhibitory action against growth of various important human pathogens including influenza A virus, hepatitis B and C virus, herpes virus, adenovirus Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and Candida albicans yeast.
Matcha Green Tea May Help in HIV Prevention
Epigallocatechin present in matcha is also efficient in the prevention of HIV. Along with this, consumption of matcha tea may also help in protecting the brains of HIV patients. This defensive act attributes to the penetrating power of epigallocatechin through the blood brain barriers, which is not feasible for the commercially available anti-retroviral drugs.
Improves Gastrointestinal Functions
Match tea is very useful in treating gastrointestinal disorders. Research has shown that regular consumption of matcha tea stimulates fecal excretion and helps the body to get rid of harmful chemicals and toxins.
Uses of Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is a very useful beverage that has gained popularity all over the world for a lot of reasons. Matcha tea is rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and L-theanine, which collectively go a long way in boosting the immune system of the body, and fighting off infections and harmful bacteria and viruses from entering the body.
Compared to other green teas, matcha tea has the highest number of antioxidant compounds present in it, which neutralize the harmful effects of free oxygen radicals in the body. Matcha tea has also been proved to help control blood sugar levels in patients suffering from diabetes.
Matcha green tea works wonderfully well in providing a calming effect to the body. L-theanine, a unique amino acid present in matcha green tea possesses anti-anxiolytic properties and which assists in boosting alpha waves in the brain. These alpha waves encourage relaxation and induce a profound feeling of mental clarity and more alert state of mind.
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Side-Effects & Allergies of Matcha Tea
While matcha tea is a very healthy beverage and has a lot of beneficial effects on the human body, it has a few side effects too. Matcha tea contains a high amount of caffeine, which may cause side effects such as nervousness, irritability, dizziness and anxiety.
Consumption of matcha green tea in large doses may cause digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, or diarrhea. Matcha tea has also been seen to have a few other side effects such as sleeping disorders and cardiac arrhythmia.
Cultivation of Matcha Tea
Matcha green tea originated in Japan, and because the entire leaf is ingested in powder form, it is the most potent green tea in the world. In Japanese “cha” means tea, and “ma” means powder, thus the word matcha translates literally as powdered green tea.
It is believed that the very first green tea seeds were brought to Japan from China by the Zen Monk Eisai in 1191 A.D., who planted them on the temple grounds in Kyoto. From there they spread to other parts of Asia, and later the world, which had the right types of soil and weather conditions. The ideal conditions for growing matcha plants include a subtropical climate with temperatures ranging between 57 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Matcha plants need plenty of rainfall for proper growth. The soil needs to have good drainage, as well as a high water retention capability. Matcha plants need to be grown in the shade, and should not be exposed to prolonged direct sunlight.
References
- Weiss DJ, Anderton CR. Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A. 2003 Sep 5;1011(1-2):173-80. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Sharangi AB. Medicinal and therapeutic potentialities of tea (Camellia sinensis L.)–A review. Food Research International. 2009 Jun 1;42(5-6):529-35. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
- Namita P, Mukesh R, Vijay KJ. Camellia sinensis (green tea): A review. Global journal of pharmacology. 2012;6(2):52-9. [Cited 26 June 2019]. Available from:
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