Benefits of matcha

Matcha is not only drunk at tea ceremonies, but is also used in various sweets and drinks. It is no exaggeration to say that matcha is such a popular ingredient that nowadays you will find matcha products everytime you go to supermarkets or convenience stores.

It is very popular not only among the Japanese but also among foreigners. It is loved by many foreign celebrities and some of them even have matcha brands. Matcha sweets are very popular among foreign tourists visiting Japan, and we often see people shopping spree matcha products.

So why is matcha so popular?

One of the reasons, in addition to its delicious taste, is that the ingredients in matcha tea are very good for your health and beauty. In this article, we will explain in detail the benefits of matcha.


Matcha tea contains the following nutrients.

1. Catechins

Catechins are a type of polyphenol found in teas. Tea has an astringent taste, which is coming from catechins. Catechins have many beneficial effects on the body, such as antioxidant effect, sterilization, anti-cancer effect, and they inhibit the elevation of blood sugar and blood pressure. Catechins also inhibit the absorption of fat in the diet, which can be expected to have a weight-loss effect.

Catechins are known to be very effective not only for the body but also for beauty too. It is said that oxidants accumulate in the skin due to exposure to ultraviolet rays and other environmental factors in our daily lives, and that the accumulation of these oxidants over the years causes skin aging, such as spots, wrinkles and sagging. Catechins work in removing these oxidants, thus they are very good for beauty by preventing blemishes and promoting skin turnover.

2. Theanine

Theanine is an amino acid that is unique to tea and is generally known as a flavor component. When exposed to sunlight, theanine converts to catechins (astringent component). Matcha is generally grown in a shaded environment, which means that it contains more theanine than catechins.

Theanine has the effect of calming excitement, relieving tension, and relaxing the body and mind. When theanine enters the brain, it changes the levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which can lower blood pressure and improve sleep quality.

Matcha tea also contains caffeine, and while it is known that high caffeine intake can cause excitatory effects, theanine suppresses the excitatory effects of caffeine.

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen in the skin and is a water-soluble vitamin with antioxidant effects. Its antioxidant properties help prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction by removing oxidants that accumulate with aging.

It also has the effect of boosting the immune system, thus consuming vitamin C can reduce the risk of catching a cold. As you can see, vitamin C is a very good nutrient for the body, but it is also known to be very good for beauty as well. Vitamin C prevents the deposition of melanin pigment, which is the source of blemishes, and thus can be expected to prevent the development of blemishes.

It also has anti-oxidant properties, so it can be expected to have anti-aging and whitening effects by removing oxidants that tend to accumulate in the skin.

4. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. Like vitamin C, it has a very strong antioxidant effect and is expected to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and aging by removing oxidants. It has a synergistic effect when taken at the same time as vitamin C, which is a water-soluble vitamin. Since matcha contains both vitamin C and vitamin E, it is expected to bring a strong antioxidant effect.

5. Dietary fiber

Matcha contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. As many people know, dietary fiber is very effective in solving constipation. Dietary fiber also helps prevent blood sugar levels get high, so together with catechins, it can be expected to have a weight-loss effect.

6. Caffeine

Many people know that caffeine is effective in waking people up from sleep, but in addition to its stimulant effect, caffeine also relieves fatigue, pain, and relaxes the body. Caffeine also raises metabolism, expends energy, and promotes fat burning, which can be expected to have a weight-loss effect.

Summary

Matcha is popular not only in Japan but also all over the world. One of the reasons for this is not only that it tastes good, but also that the many nutrients contained in matcha have positive effects on both the body and beauty.

It is a versatile ingredient that can be used not only as a tea, but also in everyday cooking, chocolate, ice cream, and cakes. Welcome to the world of matcha and we hope you enjoy it!