Truth be told, I was never a BIG coffee drinker, although I did lean on it pretty heavily when I was writing my first book, Eaternity. I relied on that heavy caffeine rush in the morning to kickstart my writing sessions and give me a big boost to start my day.
However, I noticed after a few months that coffee left me feeling jittery, anxious and more nervous. Not a good look when trying to focus for hours on writing a book. So, I decided to wean myself off of coffee. After kicking coffee to the curb, I needed an energy-boosting drink to get me going in the morning. A drink that could still give me the mental focus and drive that I felt from coffee.
Enter the magic of matcha green tea!
I’d enjoyed matcha green tea before – usually in ice creams, desserts or confections. But making a hot matcha latte with coconut milk was a whole new world for me! I started drinking matcha tea instead of coffee and found that I was enjoying sharp mental clarity, enhanced brain power and tons of energy… without the inevitable crash and burn from coffee in the afternoon. And I’ve been obsessed with matcha ever since I tried that very first latte.
Matcha green tea is becoming one of the hot ingredients in the natural products world. But what makes it so uniquely effective and ultra healthy? Let’s check out some of the primary benefits of matcha.
High in Antioxidants
Matcha contains a concentrated amount of antioxidants, which may reduce cell damage and prevent chronic diseases.
Helps Protect the Liver
Studies have shown that matcha could prevent liver damage and decrease the risk of liver disease. However, additional studies are needed to look at the effects on the human body.
Improves Cognitive Performance
Matcha has been shown to improve attention, memory and reaction time. It also contains caffeine and L-theanine (a potent amino acid) which may improve multiple aspects of cognition.
Could Aid in Cancer Prevention
Studies has shown that the compounds in matcha may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. More research is needed to determine how these compounds may affect cancer cells in humans.
May Decrease the Risk of Heart Disease
Green tea and matcha may decrease several heart disease risk factors and be associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and stroke.
Increases Weight Loss
Some studies show that green tea extract helps increase metabolism and fat burning, both of which may assist in weight loss.
It’s Easy to Prepare
It’s super easy to prepare matcha at home! You can make traditional matcha tea by sifting 1–2 teaspoons of matcha powder into your cup, adding 2 ounces of hot water and mixing it together with a bamboo whisk. You can find a bamboo whisk at a specialty tea or Japanese store. You can also adjust the ratio of matcha to water based on your preferred consistency. For a thinner tea, reduce the matcha to a half teaspoon (1 gram) and mix with 3–4 ounces of hot water. If you prefer a more concentrated version, combine 2 teaspoons of matcha with just 1 ounce of water.
So, if you’ve been trying to kick your coffee habit and need something to help you start your day without the afternoon energy crash, give matcha green tea a try.
