The Benefits of Matcha tea
Matcha tea has become increasingly popular among health concious people in Ireland ,and no wonder because a single cup of it is equivalent to 10 cups of ordinary green tea. It was first discovered by a Japanese monk in the 12th century. He pulverised the green tea leaves, which had been steamed, dried and then put into tight molds. The tea would be made by crushing it with a mortar and pestle until it became a powder. He then mixed the powder and hot water in a wide bowl. The Zen Japanese monks found that the tea helped to keep them awake after long durations of meditation. It also kept them healthy. Although other green teas are grown worldwide, matcha tea is exclusive to Japan. It contains L-theanine which is an amino acid that helps to relax the mind, while also increasing the mood. This is why the monks drank it before meditating. Although it contains caffeine, it also contains L-theanine, which helps to sustain focus and relaxation for long periods of time.
A Japanese study in the Journal of Pysiological Anthropology found that students who consumed L-theanine felts less anxious and had lower blood pressure when they were psychologically or physically stressed. When they were given the placebo pill it didn’t have the same effect. A Canadian study in Alternative Medicine Review tested students saliva which showed that they were more relaxed when in a stressful situation while working in a pharmacy. A different Canadian study reported that boys with ADHD slept better when they took L-theanine. The Israeli Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that psychotic and schizophrenic individuals had a reduction in their anxiety symptoms when they consumed L-theanine.
Matcha is abundant with chlorophyl which is a green pigment found in plants. This detoxifies and excretes chemicals and metals from the body. It also helps your body to remove germs and to preclude new germs from growing. It contains magnesium which alkalinizes the body, it eliminates bad breath and aids digestion. Doctors used chlorophyl to prevent open wounds from smelling.
In 2006 The National Cancer Institute in the US researched 50 medical studies in relation to tea consumption and its effects on cancer. A spokesperson from the organisation said “The results of these studies have often been inconsistent, but some have linked tea consumption to reduced risks of cancer of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate, and lung”. Studies from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that matcha tea could help with weight loss. It says “it might be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, mainly obesity”. They also said it burns calories from the average 8 percent to 10 percent, to between 35 and 43 percent.
The health benefits of Matcha tea
Boosts the metabolism and aids slimming
Contains antioxidants
Detoxifies the body
Relaxes the mind
Stimulates concentration and the mood
Contains selenium, zinc, magnesium, chromium and vitamin C
Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
Contains, chlorophyl, vitamins and fibre
Prevents disease
