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7 scientifically endorsed benefits of matcha tea

1. Presence of antioxidants

The benefits of matcha tea come from the presence of Catechins, a compound from the plant kingdom that offers a high compendium of natural antioxidants.

This is possible to complexify the so-called harmful free radicals, structures that can be associated with other elements to cause great oxidative damage in organs.

Antioxidants bind to these elements and prevent them from causing alterations in organs, many of them related to cancer, hence it is recommended increase fruit and vegetable intake for its content in these compounds.

Compared to green tea, matcha tea contains 137 times higher concentration of catechins. [1]

Therefore, the consumption of supplements containing the powder of leaves of this type has increased significantly in recent years. Do not hesitate to consume them if your diet is not balanced with the presence of antioxidants and vegetable vitamins.

2. Increases brain activity

What relationship can this type of green tea have with the performance of brain activity?

Although it is really difficult to assess the increase in functionality when performing tasks in random individuals, evidence of improvements in care, memory retention and reaction time, versus placebo individuals.

The researchers found that matcha caused improvements in attention, reaction time and memory, compared to placebo. [4].

This same study has been replicated in Elderly in Japan, with memory retention problems, consuming 2 grams of matcha tea powder a day for 90 days, obtaining a positive response to treatment (increase in MMSE-J scores).

At the same time, it is also necessary to assess the effect provided by the caffeinein attention, since this compound accelerates the reaction time and stimuli, increasing the memory retention capacity.

Something interesting to value is the rebound effect that caffeine has when its effect ends. It can be seen remarkably in coffee, although in matcha tea it does not occur as noticeably.

This is because the caffeine in this green tea is supported by an element called L-theanine, which provides an energy stimulus parallel to that of caffeine, so when the effect of caffeine is over, it still relies on the L-theanine stimulus.

However, you don’t have to see the theanine present in the matcha tea only as a stimulant, since in that trial it was shown that he had effect on alpha brain activity. [5]

How to drink matcha tea

3. Matcha tea helps you lose weight

Knowing that matcha tea has a nutritional composition rich in antioxidants and biologically active compounds, what relationship is there with weight loss?

In matcha tea we look for accelerate metabolic activity, which is related to energy expenditure and caloric consumption.

Knowing this, a clinical trial was conducted to supplement physical activity and the consumption of matcha tea supplements, checking how much fat burning accelerates. [8]

The result was a increased rate of fat oxidation 17% versus placebo. In turn, positive results of 13% were also obtained in terms of insulin sensitivity.

4. Protect your heart

One of the main causes of death in Western countries is cardiovascular accidents, especially from the age of 35. [Source: Annals of Translational Medicine]

The nutritional profile and the concentration of antioxidant and botanical compounds is very similar between traditional green tea and matcha green tea.

As we know that heart attacks are intimately related to cholesterol levels, it has been deeply investigated whether there is a relationship between the benefits of matcha tea and the reduction of LDL.

The pool of 14 scientific trials have shown a considerable reduction in serum CT and CT concentrations and LDL cholesterol. 

However, there were no differences with respect to cholesterol considered as benefitsor (HDL).

5. Liver and kidney protector

Most of the toxins that we introduce through food pass through the liver, so it fulfills essential functions with its metabolization. Not only that, it’s also the same with medications and alcohol.

The benefits of matcha green tea they are also linked to the protection of the liver, because it significantly influences regulate liver enzyme levels.

Clinical trials have been carried out in animals (rats) with diabetes problems, obtaining results of improvement during the 16 weeks of duration of matcha intake.

One study administered matcha to diabetic rats for 16 weeks and found that it helped prevent damage to both the kidneys and liver. [2]

However, other studies have been tested in people to see the response of this supplement in people diagnosed with fatty liver.

The results concluded that in a 12-week period with daily consumption of 500 mg of matcha green tea extract, there was a significant response in the reduction of elevated liver enzymes, which act as a marker of liver damage.

In addition, they have been collected more than 15 studies who come to the same conclusions about this type of tea.

However, it is important to remember that there may be other factors involved in this association.

More research is needed to look at the effects of matcha on the general population, as most research is limited to studies examining the effects of green tea extract on animals.

6. May help prevent cancer

The word cancer is always subject to controversy, since there are countless foods and food supplements that mention terms such as cure or protection against cancer.

Only those products that have been subjected to complete refuted and prestigious scientific studies should be taken seriously.

For years, the consumption of tea has been linked to a protective effect against reactions that can lead to cancer in the medium term (before we talked about free radicals).

The benefits of matcha tea as cancer prevention they are still in the development phase in animals, although with very promising results, as a medium phase to be analyzed in human patients.

Green tea extract has had positive effects in rats induced with breast cancer, where rate of cancer cell proliferation.

The scientific community has focused its attention on a compound present in matcha green tea, the epigallocatechin gallate-3 (EGCG), with antioxidant activity.

In these clinical trials, there is still a long way to go since certain tests have not been statistically significant (reduction of the carcinogenesis of the mammary gland), while others have (reduced the tumor burden).

On the other hand, there are parallel studies of great magnitude, where the efficacy of this compound, epigallocatechin gallate-3, is being tested against the development of other types of tumors (prostate, liver and skin, among others).

In the skin case, a positive effect has been demonstrated in exogenous application against the adverse effects of solar UV radiation. [6]

As we have mentioned, there is a long way to go since most of these tests are in vitro or have been tested on animals. Although it is an important advance, it remains to be seen if the positive results can be replicated in humans.

7. Matcha tea is very easy to prepare

Yes, it is not really a benefit for our body, but it would be useless to have a product that is difficult to manipulate, with an unpleasant taste or complicated to obtain.

Quite the opposite of what happens to matcha tea, with an unmistakable and highly valued flavor, we can buy it in many places (although the place of production is thousands of kilometers away).

In addition, we not only have the option of being able to enjoy an infusion of matcha tea, but also use derivative products such as supplements, powder, or even foods that contain it (such as protein shakes, for example).

References and medical data

1. Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by chromatogrammicellar electrokinetics.

2. Matcha, a powdered green tea, improves the progression of kidney and liver damage in type 2 diabetic OLETF rats.

3. The effect of green tea intake on liver disease risk: a meta-analysis.

4. Effect of matcha tea, in beverage and snack bar formats, on mood and cognitive performance.

5. L-theanine, a natural component in tea, and its effect on mental state.

6. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits photocarcinogenesis by inhibiting angiogenic factors and activating CD8+ T cells in tumors.

7. Green tea intake reduces fasting total serum and LDL cholesterol in adults.

8. Ingestion of green tea extract, fat oxidation and glucose tolerance in healthy humans.

About Lela M Altman

Lela M. Altman is a distinguished biochemist dedicated to unraveling the intricacies of life at the molecular level. With a robust background in molecular biology and genetics, she has contributed significantly to our understanding of key cellular processes. Her groundbreaking research spans diverse areas, from DNA replication mechanisms to protein folding dynamics. Dr. Altman's work has led to innovative treatments for various diseases and shed light on the origins of life itself. Her unwavering commitment to scientific exploration has earned her accolades and respect in the scientific community, solidifying her status as a trailblazing figure in the field of biochemistry.

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