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Matcha Green Tea
Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is prolific in several Asian countries, and its consumption goes back nearly 4000 years. There is even evidence suggesting it was the first herbal beverage.
Matcha green tea is a bit different from normal green tea. First, the tea plants are covered with shade cloths the last few weeks prior to harvesting. This slows the growth, and stimulates an increase in chlorophyll and amino acid production. Second, the tea buds are hand-picked, and the stems and veins are usually removed.
And third, with matcha green tea, you’re consuming everything, rather than simply steeping and discarding the tea leaves. And for those accustomed to more caffeinated beverages like coffee, you’ll be happy to know that matcha green tea contains around three times the caffeine as normal green tea.
Another substance you get more of with matcha green tea (compared to normal green tea) is the amino acid L-theanine. Studies show that when this amino acid is combined with caffeine, levels of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA increase in the brain, which leads to improved cognitive function, a boost in mood, and a reduction in mental and physical stress.
Matcha Green Tea Benefits
You can tell just by looking at the intense color of matcha green tea that it has significantly greater benefits than normal green tea, especially the typical store bought packets most of us know as green tea. And what exactly is responsible for that deep color? A little something called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants and nearly identical to the molecular structure of our hemoglobin. Besides being a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier, it helps the body process more oxygen, aids in the growth and repair of tissues and cells, and alkalizes the body, all of which greatly improve our chances of preventing and treating disease.
Chlorophyll’s role in benefiting health cannot be overstated, and it’s the oxygen component that is most beneficial. Healthy cells equal a healthy body. And cells with more oxygen are healthier. While cells with less oxygen decay and die, or even worse, mutate.
In terms of pH, anything that alkalizes the body is beneficial. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Our ideal pH is around 7.4, so slightly alkaline. However, most of us find ourselves on the wrong side of 7, which is to say way too acidic. The problems with this are numerous and include digestive disorders, heart disease, poor immune function, and respiratory problems where oxygen transport is limited.
So by consuming matcha green tea, you get loads of health promoting chlorophyll, and you balance your pH levels. Both of which aid in providing oxygen to tissues and cells. Both of which are responsible for creating an environment where disease is far less likely to occur. It has even been surmised that cancer cannot live in an alkaline, oxygen rich environment.[59] How’s that for beneficia