WHAT IS THE MATCHA WITH YOU!

Okay, okay.....this may not be all that new to you! But it is newish to me! Matcha. Yep that green drink that we see popping up all over the place has slowly become one of my favorites to drink. Now I feel compelled to explain the reason for this blog post about this not so new phenomenon to you but major revelation to me.

You see, last year when I made the decision that I was going to give up.....COFFEE....I knew I was going to want a healthier alternative to that lovely warm, tasty beverage that woke me up each morning. Now giving up coffee was a personal decision and one that I needed to do for my health, I actually will be doing a blog about what coffee does to your body and your adrenal system next week. Anyways, back to the Matcha! So the first thing I needed to do was research which brand of Matcha was the best quality and easily accessible for me. Because yes not all Matchas are the same and I have very picky tastebuds. And I have had some funky Matcha! I mean. doesn't it have an interesting taste? What is it anyways?

WHAT IS MATCHA?

If you were thinking the word matcha means something special, think again. It literally means “powdered tea.” Matcha tea comes from the same plant that all tea comes from: Camellia sinensis. Unlike regular green tea, matcha is shade grown 20-30 days before it is harvested. This process not only increases the amino acid content of the tea, but also the chlorophyll content which gives matcha its bright green color. After the leaves are harvested, the leaves are steamed, dried and ground into a fine powder. When you drink matcha tea, you’re getting the nutrients from the entire tea leaf. This means you’re getting consuming more antioxidants. (More on that later!) Whew....that was a lot of science! But I had to get that part out of the way!

Okay back to why I decided to start drinking this "powdered tea" daily! So if you have been reading my blogs, you know that I went through some pretty scary health shit! And once I got my nutrition on track, lost 40 pounds, got back on a pretty decent sleep pattern I knew I needed to keep the changes going for the long term! Enter MATCHA! Did you know that studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health, and even aid in weight loss! So what else can this "Mean Green Machine" do?

Matcha Benefit #1 - It's High in Antioxidants!

Yep, Studies have shown the high antioxidant content in matcha tea can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. I guess this helps lower your risk of several chronic diseases!

Matcha Benefit # 2 - It Is Calming

So there is an amino acid called L-theanine and it is found is some mushrooms and it is also found in Matcha. This amino acid puts you in a calm and meditative state. Those monks were on to something!!!!

Matcha Benefit # 3 - It Can Improve Your Physical Performance

Caffeine is commonly used as a stimulant in sports. And studies have shown, on average, caffeine can increase physical performance by 11-12%.

Caffeine can also improve physical performance by making the fatty acids in fat tissue available for use as energy. So drink up and go run that marathon!

WAYS TO ENJOY MATCHA

Look, as always, do your own research. I am just sharing what has worked for me. So after researching all the benefits of Matcha, I wanted to find a company that had great tasting Matcha. A friend of mine is a Sipologist for Steeped Tea and she recommended I try their Matcha. They also have an amazing line of loose leaf teas so I ordered a variety of teas and some Vanilla Matcha and Coconut Matcha! Yep...COCONUT MATCHA!!!! OMG......friends......I have died and gone to tropical heaven! Did I forget to mention that there is Mocha Matcha, Fruit Punch Matcha, Lemonade Matcha, Clementine Matcha, Cherry Matcha and several others that are seasonal! I got a Creamy Root Beer Green Tea and Mixed Vanilla Matcha and Coconut Milk over Ice and enjoyed the healthiest Mock Root Bear Float ever!

Okay, okay I am getting lost in Matcha and Tea land! My point is my body and adrenals have never been more thankful for making the switch and I think yours would too! And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out! I'll be right here mixing up some amazing things!

xoxo

Lucie Mitchell, CTNC

Fierce and Beautiful Wellness

This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical, mental health or healthcare advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, cure or prevent any illness, medical condition or mental or emotional condition.