What Is Matcha?

Matcha is a green tea powder that comes from "Camellia sinensis" plant leaves that have been grown and processed in a specific way and have a unique nutrient profile. Farmers cultivate matcha by shielding their tea plants from direct sunlight 20–30 days before harvesting. This enhances chlorophyll production, increases the plant's amino acid content, and darkens its green color. Lastly, after the tea leaves have been picked, they are processed into a fine powder called matcha by removing the veins and stems.

How is Matcha Used?

East Asians have been using it for a long time. The traditional way of preparing matcha is by using a bamboo whisk to prepare a Hot Matcha tea in Japanese tea festivities. It's drunk from a matcha bowl after being whisked in hot water. Matcha is typically served with a sweet accompaniment to offset any bitterness in the tea. Matcha is also a famous flavoring agent in Western chocolates, candies, desserts, baking, lattes, shots, and smoothies. Additionally, matcha often plays a role as a natural food dye for icings, batters, and glazes.

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What Are the Health Benefits Of Matcha?

Studies on matcha and its constituents have uncovered various health benefits, such as its ability to protect the liver, support heart health, and aid weight loss. Drinking Matcha regularly can help improve heart health by decreasing cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation. It also boosts the immune system and can even help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Matcha may help enhance focus, memory, and response time. Moreover, matcha contains L-theanine and caffeine, which can enhance numerous aspects of brain function. Matcha is an excellent source of antioxidants, which can protect against oxidative damage caused by free radicals in the body. According to one study, supplementing mice with matcha reduced free radical damage and increased antioxidant activity. The catechins found in Matcha tea may help reduce the risk of cancer, and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine has been using it for centuries.

What Makes Matcha An Anti-Cancer Food?

Green Tea, including matcha, is bursting with nutrients that are good for you, and several of them may help reduce the risk of cancer, as shown in lab tests and animal studies. In one study, rats given green tea extract had smaller tumors, and their breast cancer cells grew more slowly.

Furthermore, green tea is abundant in Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a catechin type that has demonstrated potent anti-cancer properties. According to a test tube investigation, green tea's EGCG helped eradicate prostate cancer cells. Similarly, some other test tube studies have also found EGCG to effective against skin, liver, and lung cancers.

References

Health Benefits

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735169
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28784536
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15723227/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25761837
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11470725/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19597519/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26448271/

As Anti-cancer

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11500915/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17998943/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15938647/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18426555/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14998086/