Green tea has been used for centuries in meditative practices of martial artists and those generally seeking a healthy life style. Matcha is green tea, but in a ground up form. The health benefits of matcha tea exceed those of green tea because when you drink matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water. One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content.

For maximum nutritional benefit, matcha tea is unparalleled. These are the 9 category's covered in this article. Why? Antioxidant Protection Disease Prevention Detoxification Mood Enhancement Weight Loss Energy Cancer-Fighting EGCg

WHY?

I practice ninjutsu daily and drink matcha before my exercises begin. Its obvious why any practitioner of martial arts would drink this healthy beverage like matcha. The effect of well being and wholesome energy is almost instant! Other than the immediate effects of the drink, I later found out its many lasting effects and became quickly convinced its a drink that would benefit everyone, not just martial artists. So even if this article doesn't convince you, one cup of matcha will.

Matcha Tea

For Antioxidant Protection: Exponentially Higher in Antioxidants than Blueberries and Spinach Green teas contain a high amount of antioxidants, chemically compounds known to forestall aging. Antioxidants are found in many fruits and vegetables – even chocolate. A testing method known as ORAC – short for oxygen radical absorbance capacity, evaluates the antioxidant levels found in food. According to research done by Tufts University, the ORAC capacity of matcha green tea is exponentially higher than other foods known for their high antioxidants levels such as blueberries and spinach. The ORAC rating of matcha is 1300 units/g, compared to 105 units/g for pomegranates and 91 units/g for wild blueberries.

Rich in Chlorophyll: A Renowned Detoxifying Agent: Chlorophyll, the pigment which gives leaves their green color, helps to remove heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body. Because matcha powdered tea is fully ingested when consumed and because matcha is shade grown -- a process which increases the chlorophyll content in the leaves -- matcha tea is a chlorophyll rich food. Concentrated natural compounds derived from matcha green tea also dramatically boost production of a group of key detoxificationenzymes in people with low levels of these beneficial proteins, according to researchers at Arizona Cancer Center. These findings, published in the August issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggest that a green tea concentrate might help some people strengthen their metabolic defense against toxins capable of causing cancer.

Metabolism and Fat Oxidation: There are two ways to lose weight - either reduce energy intake, or increase energy expenditure. A study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that matcha green tea produces a significant increase in energy expenditure (a measure of metabolism) in individuals, combined with a significant effect on fat oxidation. While some of the effects were originally attributed to the caffeine content of green tea, the researchers discovered that matcha green tea effect on energy and weight loss go beyond those that would be caused by the caffeine. In fact, they found that consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis (the body's own rate of burning calories) from a normal 8%-10% of daily energy expenditure, to between 35% and 43% of daily energy expediture. Matcha Tea: For Renowned Cancer Fighting Catechin EGCg Found Only In Green Tea Not all Antioxidants are Created Equal Antioxidants are found in many foods including fruits and vegetables. There are many types of antioxidants, however, the class known as catechins are only found in green tea, and these maybe the most potent of all. And of the catechins, EGCg (epicgallocatechin gallate) is the catechin with broadest and most potent cancer-fighting properties. Sixty percent of the catechin content of matcha tea is EGCg. One gram of matcha contains 105 mg of total catechin content, and roughly 61% is EGCg. Catechins are antioxidants only found in green tea 60% of catechin content of matcha is EGCg EGCg is the catechin with the broadest and most potent cancer-fighting properties Dosage is concentrated in matcha powder, when compared to brewed loose leaf tea How much EGCg is in a single serving? One gram of matcha contains 105 mg of total catechin content, and roughly 61% is EGCg. A single serving size is typically anywhere from 2-4 grams or 1 tsp to 1T, depending on your preference. Matcha's ORAC Rating ORAC is a measure of antioxidant efficacy of a particular food.The ORAC rating of matcha tea is 1300 umoleTE/g compared to 105 for pomegranate fruit and 93 for wild blue berries. The USDA recommends 3,000- 5,000 ORAC units per day. One teaspoon of matcha tea, about 2 grams, contains approxiamately 2600 ORAC units. Matcha Green Tea vs. Fruit and Berry Juice While fruit juices can be high in antioxidants, they tend to contain a lot of sugar and calories, and virtually no fiber. So enjoy them in moderation - or better yet, opt for the whole fruit, which provides antioxidants and fiber with fewer calories. EGCg Studied for Possible Breast Cancer Therapies In a 2008 study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi researchers found that consuming EGCG significantly inhibits breast tumor growth in female mice. Researchers believe these findings can help lead to new therapies for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in women. Source: American Physiological Society (2008, April 8). Green Tea Ingredient, EGCG, Significantly Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth In Female Mice. ScienceDaily. Matcha Tea: For Immune Function and Disease Prevention Several studies have been conducted regarding the health benefits of matcha green tea. Most of the research is based on the amount consumed in Asian countries which is about three cups daily. The evidence seems to suggest that matcha green tea drinkers have a lower risk of a wide range of illnesses from viral and bacteria infections to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis.

Japanese studies have shown that green tea daily intake, decreases the risk of heart disease. The more the tea is consumed, the lower the risk of heart disease. An increase of free radicals in the arteries is a key factor in the development of heart disease. Recent research shows that catechins found in green tea inhibit free radical production in the arteries. Several studies have been conducted showing Matcha tea's ability to inhibit certain enzymes that cause arthritic inflammation. It has also been found to have many other anti-inflammatory compounds. It contains fifteen compounds that have been known to contribute to the protection against ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). EGCg, a powerful antioxidant, is believed to contribute to inhibiting the growth of certain tumors 1 cup of matcha green tea equals 10 cups of brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content. Matcha Tea: Theanine Aids Mood and Cognitive Functions Matcha contains L-theanine, an amino acid known to relax the mind. For this reason, matcha is also known as a natural mood enhancer. Amino acids are also what gives matcha its distinctive taste. They contribute to what is known as the fifth taste, or umami, characterized by a rich creamy mouth feel.

Buddhist monks drank matcha to assist in meditation, as matcha's amino acids, combined with caffeine, offer a sustained calm alertness over time. Theanine (N-ethyl-gama-glutamine) is a non-protein amino acid, rare in nature, but found in tea. It was discovered by the Japanese in 1949. Theanine is most commonly found in tea leaves where it accounts for up to 50% of the amino acids, and 2% of the weight. Research indicates that theanine is more abundant in younger matcha leaves and buds while antioxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) are more abundant in mature leaves with stems. Theanine contents of tea are not equal. Mass produced black teas are generally of low quality and contain less than 10 mg per cup, while high quality green teas contain much more. High quality matcha tea may contain upwards of 50 mg a cup. Theanine is absorbed readily and moves into the blood stream within 30 minutes of ingestion. It seems to blunt the effects of caffeine and attenuates the sympathetic component of the central nervous system (CNS). The theanine in matcha tea readily crosses the blood brain barrier where it aids cognitive functions like clarity, focus, and mood.

The No Buzz Booster: A recent study tested the effect of regularly taking green tea extract (GTE) and found that over 10 weeks, endurance exercise performance was boosted up to 24%. The results indicated that GTE and matcha green tea, which contains 10 times the nutritional content of regular brewed green tea, are beneficial for improving endurance capacity and increases muscle lipid oxidation in mice. A study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that matcha green tea produces a significant increase in energy in individuals. While some of the effects were originally attributed to the caffeine content of green tea, the researchers discovered that matcha's effect on energy goes beyond those that would be caused by the caffeine. In fact, they found that consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis from a normal 8%-10% of daily energy expenditure, to between 35% and 43% of daily energy expenditure. Of critical importance is the fact that none of the research subjects reported any side effects, and no significant differences in heart rates were noticed.

All information gathered from: matchasource.com/