If you’re a ZGYM member, you may have seen my recent video where I talk all about Matcha (which, believe it or not, is a powdered form of green tea with far more potency than the typical tea bags found at the market). For those of you who haven’t, or would like to know even more about it, let’s take a closer look at Matcha, and why it should be on your shopping list.

I love matcha so much, I have partnered with TheReserve.com and created my own pre and post workout blends with cocoa and strawberry flavour which you can buy and try for yourself over at my store.

Clean, Green Energy

Are you one of those people who can’t handle coffee? For some of us, one person’s elixir is another’s poison- jitters, headaches, sweaty palms and horrible crashes are just some of the side effects people experience from coffee. Luckily, Matcha is a cleaner alternative that comes with none of these drawbacks. For one, Matcha has nowhere near the same amount of caffeine compared to coffee. Secondly, our body digests the caffeine in Matcha different. Instead of jolting our system and messing with our hormones, the caffeine binds with other large, stable molecules found in Matcha that help to slow down its breakdown in the bloodstream. (In other words, its energy is far more sustainable and long lasting than the short-lived spike from coffee.)

Weight Control

Instead of buying questionable supplements to manipulate your metabolism, why not try looking to nature for answers? For example, Matcha can actually help to boost your metabolism without putting your health in jeopardy (in fact, quite the opposite). It contains the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a type of catechin that’s currently being studied for its potential anti-cancer properties. EGCG has also been linked to weight loss, which is enhanced thanks to the caffeine in Matcha. The combination of EGCG and caffeine boosts metabolism, helping you to burn more calories.

Detox

Save your money on fad detox pills and focus on your diet instead. Consuming Matcha helps to support natural detoxification minus the risks of questionable herbs and supplements. Matcha is a concentrated source of chlorophyll, a pigment found in plants that lends to its beautiful shade of green. Numerous studies have been done on Chlorophyll and its capabilities towards detox and helping the body to rid itself of impurities (as well as functioning as an “internal deodorant”). [2]

Skin Health

Consider Matcha your lifelong friend when it comes to your skin. Whether you’re a young adult or aging into your wiser years, Matcha can be used to treat a number of skin concerns. Aside from helping to detoxify harmful substances from the body, Matcha helps to repair the cells that protect our skin. It’s also great for dealing with stubborn acne, preventing wrinkles, soothing sensitive skin, and offering protection from the harmful effects of UV rays. That’s why some of the best skincare products on the market include Matcha (green tea) as an ingredient- it’s that effective!

*(I’m currently loving this Matcha Mud Mask, which seems to last FOREVER and works amazingly at cleaning my skin and making me feel rejuvenated.)

Brain Function

Did you know that every time you take a sip of Matcha tea, you’re taking part in a time-honored tradition? Monks have used Matcha for centuries to promote meditation. While they couldn’t explain the reason behind this, science does. Out of the many amino acids found in Matcha, the one that stands apart from the rest is L-Theanine. This amino acid has been shown to stimulate the production of alpha waves in the brain, which helps with relaxation, concentration, memory, and enhancing our mood (reducing anxiety while increasing calmness). If you combine the brain-stimulating effects of L-Theanine with the sustainable energy of caffeine, you end up with hours of sustained, focus energy. Great for athletes and students! [3]

Are you ready to give Matcha a try? If you’re not sure how to use it, don’t worry- there are many ways to use it! You can brew it into a tea or latte, sprinkle it over salads, bake with it, mix it with oatmeal, blend it into a smoothie, or even apply it as a face mask. It’s a versatile ingredient you can use for so many different things. Use your imagination and get creative!

Sources:

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3142888/

[2] http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/chlorophyll-chlorophyllin#therapeutic-effects

[3] https://www.thematchareserve.com/pages/health-benefits