Matcha vs. Coffee: 3 Health Benefits Matcha Has Coffee DOESN’T!!

Oooh, Matcha. For the last year or so, it has been my go to replacement in my attempt to break up with coffee.  But I was asked on my Instagram account what are some of the health benefits associated with it so…tada…a blog post!!

What is matcha? Matcha is simply powdered whole green tea leaves. Tea leaves to be used for matcha are grown using a shaded method where they are covered to increase their potency. While the concept originated in China, better quality matcha is now made in Japan. (Most of the research shows that potentially high lead levels in the production of Chinese grown matcha has made many people opt for Japanese matcha)

Matcha is traditionally prepared by adding almost boiling water to the powder and whisked until frothy then consumed. It can then be made into a latte by adding steamed milk.

Here are 3 Quick Health Benefits of Matcha That Coffee DOESN’T Have:

1. Anti-Cancer Properties

According to my research on PubMed.gov (The US National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health), green tea has shown several anti-cancer benefits. In clinical trials, one of the major enzymes in green tea called EGCG had anti-metastatic effects. According to CancerCenter.com, Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells to new areas of the body (often by way of the lymph system or bloodstream).

In addition, EGCG has also been found to induce apoptosis in human lymphoma cells. Apoptosis is simply programmed cell death. Each cell in our body has a lifespan. However, the inactivation of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is central to the development of cancer. 

So, consuming matcha on a regular basis couldn’t hurt to potentially prevent the big C.

2. Potential Anti-Stress Effects

Matcha by default has caffeine because green tea leaves have caffeine. However, consuming the entire leaf does provide higher amounts of caffeine compared to steeping the tea leaves and throwing them away. On average, matcha has about the half the caffeine of coffee in each cup but delivers a longer lasting energetic effect.

However, matcha has been shown to have an anti-stress effect in clinical trials. Theanine, an amino acid in green tea has been shown to fight stress while maintaining  alertness.

I have experienced this myself. When I was an avid coffee drinker, I would love how I felt when the caffeine kicked in, BUT hated when I would crash after the effects wore off.

I would also get the jitters if I drank a little too much. They would last for hours and the aftereffects would remain for days.

Once I started drinking matcha, I noticed that this didn’t happen. Even if I drank a cup later in the evening, I didn’t have to worry about not being able to sleep like I did with coffee. This is a huge plus in my book.

CLICK BELOW TO CHECK OUT MY POST FOR MATCHA BEGINNERS 

3. Potential Dental Benefits 

According to this study, green tea has been shown to have a positive effect in dental health. Regular consumption and exposure to the compounds in green tea helped fight both bacteria and halitosis. Though it was advised that some people may have ill effects from very high green tea consumption such as caffeine sensitivities (if they are not used to caffeine), and increased bleeding time should the gums get cut. Nonetheless, the benefits far outnumber the risks in my opinion.

While there are other benefits that I could fill this post with on matcha, I believe these are the some of the biggest ones to help someone make the decision to at least try it out. Be sure to opt for organic from Japan for the highest quality!

Here are three of my current favorites:

Jade Leaf Matcha Ceremonial Grade

 Jade Leaf Matcha 

 DoMatcha Ceremonial Grade 

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