My MATCHA Obsession

I know you've probably heard the hype about Matcha. It's a type of green tea and energy source that many people are totally raving about. If you're skeptical- that's ok- but I do want to share with you how and why Matcha is my saving grace and some great health benefits of this green drink.

You can find Matcha at Starbucks and local coffee shops or juice bars.

Morning cup of home-made matcha

Personally, I never imagined using ANY caffeine source. I prefer to live as close to natural as possible, and caffeine seemed like an unhealthy supplement. Yet, as situations change in life, I graduated with my nursing degree and became a Pediatric nurse who worked NIGHT SHIFT. It quickly became evident that I needed a supplement that could give me energy and a healthy boost. (I don't suggest starting to use caffeine if your body doesn't require it because it does have the potential to build tolerance and addiction.)

I found Matcha to be a reliable source of caffeine, that boosted my mood, energy levels, and focus. Matcha green tea doesn't give me the typical highs and lows a coffee or Monster drink would give. Instead, I feel a noticeable energy level difference lift that lasts me about six to eight hours. Matcha is different than any other tea because of the way it is harvested ad made. Shided gyokuro tea leaves are plucked, steamed, dried, and ground- most commonly from Japan- and when you drink matcha you are drinking this entire ground green tea leaf. This is great because there is a potential for awesome benefits but it's also extremely important to double check your matcha source.

* Antioxidants are one of the best benefits of Matcha! According to a study at a University of Colorado Springs matcha contains up to 137 times more antioxidants than other green teas. Matcha also has more antioxidants than goji berries, blueberries, broccoli, or spinach. These antioxidants specificially EGCG can help lower the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.

* Metabolic boost and calorie burner-- May help with steady weight loss if linked with exercise and not drank with sugar

* Natural detoxifier- and natural stool softener

* Calms mind and detoxes body; Mood enhancer This has to do with a substance in Matcha called L-theanine which promotes a feeling of relaxed alertness.

* Chlorophyll and vitamins C, Selenium, Chromium, Zinc, and Magnesium

* Can help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Tea’s most promising health benefits are related to heart disease. Flavonoids in green tea prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol and reduce blood clotting. A metaanalysis of 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported that green tea significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure and total and LDL cholesterol.2

I always recommend doing your own research before trying a new product. Many of my information is from these sources:

https://draxe.com/matcha-green-tea-burns-fat-and-kills-cancer/ https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/8-wonders-of-matcha-green-tea.html https://matchasource.com/health-benefits-of-matcha-tea/