It’s the green tea that everyone’s turning to—and its numerous health benefits seem to be more than hype. Bryan Hubbard reports
The smart folk drink green tea, but the super smart choose matcha. Matcha is a type of green tea, but it’s processed differently, making it richer in health-giving antioxidants.
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from Camellia sinensis leaves. Unlike regular green tea, whose leaves are steeped and discarded, matcha uses the entire powdered leaf, giving the drink a higher concentration of caffeine and antioxidants.
The tea is also rich in chlorophyll, an antioxidant that has cancer-fighting qualities, and L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation, improves sleep quality and enhances focus. It also contains lutein and vitamin K, which could help the elderly remain cognitively sharp, and its catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), can lower the risk of heart disease.
Its advocates would say that, perhaps, but scientists seem to agree. Researchers from Qatar University say trials have demonstrated that matcha lowers stress and “slightly” improves attention and memory.1
It’s also good to drink if you’re doing resistance training. Drinking it every day helps the muscles adapt and helps fight off fatigue, say researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural University.2
It could even be an antidepressant, although positive results have been seen only in laboratory mice so far.3
But not all matchas are created equal; there are different grades, and some contain heavy metals or other contaminants. To choose a high-quality matcha, see Healthy Shopping: How to Pick the Best Matcha.
Improves brain function
Quenches inflammation
Other benefits
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