14 Matcha green tea Health Benefits According to Science

matcha green tea

This page provides information about the health benefits of matcha green tea. More specifically it examines 14 Match green tea health benefits that are backed by scientific studies.

Matcha green tea is a type of Japanese green tea that is made from shade-grown leaves. It is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the same plant used to make black and oolong teas.

However, matcha is produced differently than other teas.

Unlike other types of teas, matcha is made by grinding the whole leaf into a powder. This means that when you drink matcha, you ingest the entire leaf, rather than just the brewed water. Because of this, matcha contains high levels of antioxidants, including EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is thought to have cancer-fighting properties.

Matcha green tea Health Benefits

In this article we are going to take a look at 14 science-based matcha green tea health benefits. Number is brackets are links to research papers and scientific evidence to our claims.

1. Matcha Green Tea Boosts Metabolism and Burns Fat

One of the most important matcha green tea benefits is its ability to boost metabolism and burn fat. This is thanks to the presence of catechins, powerful antioxidants that have been shown to increase thermogenesis (the rate at which your body burns calories).

In one study, 12 healthy men were given either a placebo or 375 mg of EGCG from green tea extract. Those who received the EGCG supplement had a significant increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation, compared to the placebo group (1).

Another study looked at the effects of green tea catechins on weight loss in a group of obese individuals. After 24 hours, those who consumed the green tea catechins burned more weight and body fat than those who didn’t (2).

These studies suggest that matcha green tea can help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and burning more fat.

2. Matcha Green Tea Is High in Antioxidants

Matcha green tea is loaded with antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins. These antioxidants are responsible for many of the health benefits of matcha green tea.

One study found that matcha powder contains 137 times more antioxidants than a typical serving of green tea (3).

Another study showed that matcha has higher levels of antioxidants than other popular types of teas, including black, oolong, and white teas (4).

3. Matcha Green Tea may help protect your liver

The liver is responsible for many important functions in the body, including detoxification, metabolism, and the production of enzymes and hormones.

Liver disease is a general term used to describe any damage that affects this vital organ.

There are many different causes of liver disease, including viral infections, alcohol abuse, and fatty liver disease (5). Matcha green tea may help protect the liver from that kind of damage.

In one study, rats were given matcha green tea powder or a placebo for sixteen weeks. Those who received the matcha had significantly lower levels of liver enzymes, compared to the placebo group (6).

Another study found that matcha green tea was able to protect the liver from damage caused by a high-fat diet (7).

These studies suggest that matcha green tea may help protect the liver from damage, but more research is needed.

4. Matcha Green Tea May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Matcha green tea may also help to lower blood sugar levels.

In one study, rats were given either water or matcha green tea for sixteen weeks. Those who received the matcha had lower blood sugar levels than those in the water group (8).

In a meta analysis of 17 studies looked at the effects of matcha green tea on human participants. After drinking matcha, participants had lower blood sugar levels than those who didn’t drink it (9).

5. Matcha Green Tea May Improve Brain Function

Matcha green tea may also improve brain function.

One study looked at the effects of matcha on cognitive function in a group of healthy adults. After drinking matcha, participants had improved attention and reaction times, compared to those who didn’t drink it (10).

Another study found that matcha was able to improve working memory and task performance in a group of healthy young adults due to its content on caffeine (11).

💡DID YOU KNOW
Matcha contains L-theanine which modifies caffein’s impact, enhancing alertness and preventing the energy drop that might occur after caffeine usage. (12)

6. Matcha Green Tea May Boost Exercise Performance

Matcha green tea may also boost exercise performance.

image of a man running

One study looked at the effects of matcha on physical performance in a group of cyclists. Those who consumed matcha had increased power output, compared to those who didn’t drink it (13).

Another study found that matcha was able to improve running performance in a group of running athletes (14).

7. Matcha contains catechins, which are linked to cancer prevention

Catechins are a type of antioxidants found in green tea. They’re linked to many health benefits, including cancer prevention (15)

Matcha green tea is especially high in catechins. In fact, it contains more catechins than other types of green tea (16) (17).

READ ALSO: What are the top 15 most powerful cancer fighting foods

8. Matcha Green Tea May Boost Heart Health

Matcha green tea may also boost heart health.

Your risk of having a stroke or heart attack may be greatly reduced if you include matcha green tea in your normal diet.

The secret behind matcha green tea’s effect on heart health is on its high content of catechins which have been proven to bring an array of health benefits to the heart. (18)

READ ALSO: List With 23 BEST Foods For a Strong Heart

9. Matcha Green Tea May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Matcha green tea may also help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by reducing oxidative stress.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder that causes tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

Oxidative stress plays a major role in both diseases.

Matcha green tea may help prevent these diseases by interfering with chemical compounds that enhance these neurodegenerative diseases.

Quoting from Medical News Today, “…researchers found that the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) stops the formation of beta-amyloid plaques — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — by interfering with the function of beta-amyloid oligomers”. (19)

Both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are incurable and may lead to death (20)

10. Matcha Green Has Brain Boosting Properties

Matcha also has brain-boosting properties. It contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that increases levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin and GABA levels (21).

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s linked to pleasure and motivation. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that’s linked to happiness and well-being.

GABA is a neurotransmitter. Low levels of GABA is linked to anxiety and mood disorders (22).

READ ALSO: 8 Healthy Herbs That Relieve Stress Backed by Science

10.Matcha may boost immunity and protect against infections

Matcha may also help to boost immunity and protect against infections.

immune system fights a virus

The reason is due to its high antioxidant content. As we mention before, Matcha contains 10 times more antioxidants than other green tea varieties and 130+ more catechins than other types of tea.

According to WebMD, Green tea’s antioxidants strengthen your immune system and shield cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. This can lessen bodily inflammation and ease the signs and symptoms of long-term medical disorders. such as arthritis.

11.Matcha may improve skin health

Matcha may also improve skin health when applying topically by promoting skin regeneration, wound healing and treating of some conditions such as aphthous ulcers, psoriasis, rosacea and actinic keratosis.

Matcha green tea has a high concentration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory polyphenols that can reduce oily skin, combat bacteria that causes acne, shield skin from UV damage, increase blood flow, and create a bright complexion.

More on how Matcha green tea may help with skin you can find in this article.

RELATED: Best Supplements For Skin Elasticity During Large Weight Loss

12.Matcha may help people with arthritis

Matcha has also been shown to help people with arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the joints.

Studies have shown that green tea also helps preserve cartilage and bone by reducing inflammation and slow down cartilage destruction. (23)

This is due to Matcha’s high concentration in polyphenols and an antioxidant called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg). (24)

13.Matcha Green Tea can help you detox your body

Matcha Green Tea can also help you detox your body.

two bottles with green juice and the word detox in vertical format

This is because matcha is a very rich source of chlorophyll. Thanks to shade-growing, matcha tea has increased chlorophyll content, which is responsible for its unique vibrant color (25). Chlorophyll and its derivatives exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity (26).

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants that has many health benefits, including the ability to detoxify the body (27).

14.Match Green Tea improves your memory

Matcha Green Tea can also improve your memory.

According to this research paperMatcha Green Tea Powder contains a variety of active ingredients beneficial to health, such as tea catechins, lutein and vitamin K. It is also known that these ingredients confer benefits upon cognitive functions of elderly people.

Final Take

So there you have it, 14 science-based health benefits of matcha green tea. As you can see, matcha is a powerful superfood with many health benefits. If you’re looking for a healthy way to improve your overall health, matcha green tea is a great option.

A while ago, we wrote an article about the Top 10 Best Matcha Green Tea Powder. You may want to check it out.

If you know of any other health benefits of matcha green tea, feel free to share them in the comments below.

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