IS MATCHA GOOD FOR YOU?
What Is Matcha?
- It’s a form of green tea that’s been enjoyed in China & Japan for hundreds of years.
- The leaves are made into a powder that’s far stronger than regular tea, so a little can
go a long way.
How It’s Made
- About 2 weeks before harvest, farmers build structures around the plants to shade them, leaving them almost in the dark.
- It’s thought that this makes the leaves softer, sweeter & brighter.
- After harvest, the tea leaves are quickly steamed, then dried & put into heated ovens for
20 minutes or so. - Workers then remove stems, twigs & other unneeded parts & grind the leaves into powder.
How It Tastes
- Though it’s made from the same leaf, some people say matcha is sweeter & creamier
than regular green tea. - You may also notice a 'grassiness' to the smell & taste, especially if you use a lot of
the powder.
Health Benefits
- Antioxidants are substances in foods that can help protect your cells from damage.
- Some studies show that because of the way it’s made, matcha may have more of those
than loose-leaf green tea. - But researchers don’t know yet if that means it has any more health benefits.
Lower Blood Pressure
- Catechins, an antioxidant in matcha, may help with this.
- They seem to be especially helpful if your upper number is 130 or higher, which can raise
your chances of heart disease, heart attack & stroke, among other issues.
Lower Cholesterol
- Catechins also seem to help with your LDL ('bad') cholesterol & total cholesterol numbers.
- That’s good because high levels of those can lead to heart disease, heart attack & stroke.
Defense Against Cancer
- Polyphenols & other antioxidants in matcha (as well as loose-leaf green tea) may help
protect your cells against cancer. - But more research is needed for doctors to know if these compounds can help prevent
or delay the disease.
Better Dental Health
- A cup of matcha tea a day might help keep your teeth in good shape.
- This could be because something in the leaves helps keep a healthy level of acid in
your mouth. - Or it might be the fluoride the plant gets from the soil.
- The water you use to make your brew may have fluoride in it, too.
Stay Alert
- Matcha can help keep you awake & focused when you need to be.
- That’s in part because of one of its best-studied ingredients is caffeine.
- Just don’t overdo it.
- Too much can make you jittery & nervous & mess with your sleep.
Help With Inflammation
- Antioxidants in matcha called polyphenols might ease the kind caused by conditions like arthritis.
- It also might slow the breakdown of cartilage (the tissue that cushions your joints) that
arthritis can cause.
Matcha Tea
- Whisk together 2 to 4 oz of almost boiling water with 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha powder.
- When it looks frothy & thoroughly mixed, it’s ready to drink.
- Add a bit more water if it’s too strong for your taste
.
Matcha Latte
- Any type of milk will work: cow, goat, soy or almond.
- You can warm & even foam it & an add a bit of honey to sweeten it if you like.
- Drink it hot, or pour it over ice for a summer treat.
Add It to Your Smoothie
- Just a teaspoon or two should do the trick.
- More than that & you might over-caffeinate yourself for the day.
- Try different mixtures to find the one that works best with that matcha taste.
Sprinkle It on Oatmeal and Granola
- Add matcha to your favorite breakfast in a bowl.
- If you make your granola at home, look for recipes that use the powder, or just add a
teaspoon or two to your current recipe & see what you think.
Stir It Into Yogurt
- Sift 2 teaspoons of matcha into half a cup of Greek yogurt & mix it up.
- Add some fruit, nuts, seeds & a bit of honey for a healthy treat.
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