People often ask me, what is my secret weapon for radiant health & beauty, then I always start a long conversation explaining that actually it is a holistic target, that there is more than watching what we digest, we also have to take very good care of what we put in our mind.
But then if I had to chose one of the ingredients for radiant health & beauty, it shall be MATCHA tea. Indeed I have always been very interested by Traditional Chinese Medicine and its wisdom since an early age, and therefore have traveled a lot all over Asia. It is in Japan that I discovered this powerful drink, long used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Unlike most green teas, matcha contains the entire leaf of the Camellia sinensis (pictured top). It is a finely ground powder of green tea with incredible properties. The Oriental monks consume this tea primarily as a meditation aid. Indeed it offers an unmatched capacity to focus better, for better concentration. Those who drink it can feel more alert, without the disadvantage of excitement that coffee can have. It has a lot of health benefits!
Here are the seven main reasons why you should consume matcha everyday, in teas, lattes, smoothies, ices or gluten-free home made cakes for instance. The way you use it is of little importance ( thought I personally prefer tea) as long as you consume it daily.
1.The matcha comes from tea-plants rich in chlorophyll and chlorophyll is oxygen:
Matcha comes from tea-plants sheltered from direct sunlight. The last four weeks before the harvest, tissues covers the tea-plants in order to slow the process of photosynthesis. As plants receive less sunlight, they produce more chlorophyll in order to survive, chlorophyll producing oxygen. The matcha extra oxygen will revive the cells of your body. This is why the leaves of these tea trees are even greener. This ensures when crushing the matcha - of high quality - a deep green color tea powder.
Indeed the color of the powder is a clear sign of its quality, as per the picture below, the greener the powder is, the better quality we have. A matcha of a bright green color is rich in chlorophyll. This indicates that the tea leaves were well protected from the sun and were harvested at the right time. A matcha of a green-yellow color is of less good quality.
2. Matcha is full of EGCG, a super antioxidant:
Although there is a great deal of scientific evidence for the health benefits of green tea and matcha in particular, the first point that comes to mind when talking about Matcha is its EGCG. Epigallocatechin gallate is one of the most powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free-radicals. Actually, Matcha may contain higher amounts of Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (a potent antioxidant) than other form of green tea. This help us fight better against the free-radicals that easily damage the cells of our body and our DNA.
And this constant damage could be one of the main causes of our actual diseases and the aging of our body. With matcha you always have a super ally against these harmful damages, since the antioxidant binds to free radicals preventing them from further damages to our cells.
So if you want an anti-aging nutrient and a radiant health, go find the best quality matcha powder and drink it daily!
3. Matcha is the assurance of a healthier intestinal flora:
Matcha is a source of polyphenols, a structural class of mainly natural organic chemicals characterized by the presence of large multiples of phenol structural units. In other terms, they are healthy organic compounds found in plants, vegetables and fruits. They are in charge of the improvement of our health when we finally start adding more fruit and vegetables in our diet.
These polyphenols are also found in the leaves of the tea tree Camellia sinensis used for matcha, and when you absorb them in the form of matcha they promote an increase in good intestinal bacteria. Consequently your immune system is boosted and the potential vectors of disease are weakened.
Furthermore, with matcha, you drink the whole leaf and not the only particles soluble in water. Other green teas brings less polyphenols.
4. Matcha stimulates your metabolism and weight loss:
Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical transformation within the cells of living organisms. The three main purpose of metabolism are the conversion of food/fuel to energy to run cellular processes; the conversion of food/fuel to building blocks for proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and some carbohydrates; and last but not least, the elimination of nitrogenous wastes.
If we focus only on the later, we can affirm that matcha contributes to your light silhouette. Because several clinical studies indicates that the unique combination of caffeine and catechins found in matcha promotes weight loss and improve our metabolism. According to some studies, the daily consumption of calories can increase by 8 to 35% thanks to the nutrient matcha, without even more pronounced hunger or more eating. In other words, it simply means that your body eliminates the nitrogenous waste better and quicker.
5. Matcha strengthens liver and kidney functions:
Not only does it speed up the elimination of nitrogenous waste as mentioned above, but it also reinforces the proper liver and kidneys function.
Your liver and kidneys are constantly working to purify your body and anything that can help them in this task is more than valuable. Matcha can increases the oxygen level in the blood (thanks to Chlorophyll) as well as in the cells of your liver and kidneys. Studies have shown that the regular consumption of matcha limits the liver lesions.
Moreover the available research on matcha includes a preliminary study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2009. In tests with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that treating them with matcha led to decreased level of cholesterol, blood sugar, and harmful blood fats. What’s more, matcha appeared to protect them from liver and kidney damage.
6. Matcha increases your productivity:
As already mentioned in the very beginning of this article, the Oriental monks consume this tea primarily as a meditation aid. Indeed it offers an unmatched capacity to focus better, for better concentration.
You need more concentration and healthy energy to overcome all your obligations? Make yourself a cup of matcha tea!
This powerful cup of tea contains actually L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes the production of GABA(Gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA is one of the most important neurotransmitters acting in our brain. Actually it inhibits the overactivity of nerve impulses and thus contributes strongly to the regulation of stress.
Also, the action of the L-theanine reinforces its theine, more precisely, it inhibits its effects. That is the main reason why as matcha drinker we say that this tea brings us a calmer and clearer concentration. We feel more alert, involved, we have an exceptional concentration, without feeling neither nervous nor stressed.
7. Matcha makes you feel happier :
Indeed they are actually far much more than seven points for the health benefits of matcha, but I’d rather let you discover by yourself all of them once you will be drinking it daily. And for the last point, but not least, I am choosing “Happiness”!
The matcha L-theanine amino acid increases the concentration of serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
Serotonin and dopamine are known to be the hormones of happiness because they are at the origin of the feeling of well-being.
In case of deficiency, you might feel uncomfortable, don’t sleep well or even have depression. In other terms your “joie de vivre” is dwindling!
Then the use of matcha, within other health actions, can also overcome these symptoms.
What can we ask for more to a tea cup filled with powerful green energy, full of antioxidants, oxygen and many other beneficial substances to strengthen your body and health? So why would you deprive yourself of an nutriment that is both healthy and delicious?
My favorite Matcha green powder tea, here in Paris France, is the Matcha Enko from Japan - Kyoto Uji (of superior quality) that I buy in the Jugetsudo boutique. I also sometimes use in food and non-tea beverages their Nori matcha powder “Printemps au Mont Fuji” and drink their delicious Genmaicha with matcha that you both see pictured right, here.
So if you pass by Paris don’t forget to make a stop there. Otherwise I’m sure you will be able to find a superior quality matcha powder in your local organic shop.
Last but not least, if you try to use western utensils to prepare matcha, it most likely will not turn out that well. So rather prefer the original “Japanese tea ceremony” way , I highly recommend you to use the traditional utensils :
- Organic Matcha,
- a Matcha bowl (Chawan),
- a bambou Matcha whisk (Chasen),
- a bambou Matcha Scoop (Chashaku)
- a linenTea Cloth (Chakin)
- a Matcha Sifter (Furui)
- a measuring cup
and do it the traditional way “cha no yu” ; otherwise you might not enjoy it fully. These above out-lined utensils will enrich your matcha experience and greatly increase your chances of making the perfect bowl of matcha!
To your Health!
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