Table of Contents
What is matcha?
What are the benefits of matcha?
1. Maintain heart health
2. Improve brain function
3. Protects liver health
4. Protection against cancer
5. Maintain healthy teeth and mouth
6. Reduces inflammation
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Matcha
is now increasingly popular, not only as a contemporary drink, but is also considered to provide various benefits for
health
.
Many people choose matcha as an alternative to coffee, both to get extra energy and to enjoy its unique, smooth taste.
However, behind this trend, matcha actually has a long history and nutritional content that is interesting to discuss.
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What is matcha?
Reporting from
WebMD
, matcha is a fine powder made from green tea leaves
Camellia sinensis
.
Different from regular green tea or
green tea
, matcha comes from plants grown in the shade, thereby increasing the chlorophyll and amino acid content, and giving it its distinctive bright green color.
Whole tea leaves are ground to produce matcha, making it richer in nutrients such as caffeine, theanine, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.
Matcha powder can be used to make traditional tea,
lattes
,
smoothies
, to a mixture of various foods and
desserts
.
What are the benefits of matcha?
Matcha is known to be rich in antioxidants, especially catechins, which help protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
The combination of catechins and caffeine in matcha is also said to provide mild benefits for maintaining weight.
1. Maintain heart health
The compounds in matcha are similar to those in green tea, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease.
Antioxidants such as catechins can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, while reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and other heart problems.
2. Improve brain function
Several small studies suggest that consuming matcha can improve attention, memory and body response in the short term.
This benefit is thought to come from caffeine and theanine, which help keep the body focused without making you jittery.
3. Protects liver health
The antioxidant content in matcha can help reduce the risk of liver disease.Several analyzes show that green tea consumption is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer.
However, avoid green tea extract supplements which have the risk of causing side effects on the liver.Choose good quality pure matcha for safe consumption.
4. Protection against cancer
The EGCG in matcha may help prevent DNA damage to cells and inhibit tumor growth based on several animal studies.
Although the results are promising, further research in humans is still needed.
5. Maintain healthy teeth and mouth
Matcha has been proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.Even in laboratory studies, matcha was more effective at reducing bad breath than mints and chewing gum.
6. Reduces inflammation
Matcha antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, while reducing inflammation which can trigger chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Consuming matcha regularly can be a healthy choice, as long as it doesn’t add too much sugar or
toppings
high in calories.
Just 1-2 cups a day is enough to enjoy the benefits.With the right consumption method, matcha can become a healthy part of your daily routine.
(avd/asr)
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