Matcha Green Tea Is Great for Your Gut
Why Drink Matcha Green Tea?
In addition to tasting absolutely lovely, matcha green tea naturally contains a nice variety of health promoting chemical compounds including saponins, chlorophyll, fluorine, GABA, polyphenols (such as catechins, theaflavins, tannins, and flavonoids), as well as the amino acid theanine, and numerous vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So it’s not surprising that drinking green tea is associated with wellness in many ways, including:
• Cardiovascular health: Matcha green tea consumption has been shown to help support healthy cholesterol levels and blood flow.
• Positive mood: That cup of matcha green tea can produce a feeling of calm relaxation and happiness, and may help lift you out of the blues.
• Healthy cognitive function: The compounds in green tea encourage alertness, concentration, and good memory function—while helping you retain brain power as you get older.
• Sun protection: Although not a substitute for taking sensible sun precautions such as using sunscreen and covering up, green tea consumption my help your body better handle the UV exposure it receives.
• Strong bones: Drinking matcha green tea regularly has a protective effect on aging bones.
• Cellular health: Research shows matcha green tea and its compounds can help keep the body healthy all the way down to its cells.
• Optimum blood sugar levels: Enjoying matcha green tea encourages blood sugar levels to stay in a healthier range.
• Healthy weight: The catechins in green tea may make it easier to avoid excess pounds.
• Comfy digestion: Catechins may help soothe temporary inflammation and other tummy troubles.
Matcha green tea may even be an effective way to keep the grim reaper at bay! A large study following 40,000 people between the ages of 40 and 79 for 11 years found that those who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had a significantly lower risk of dying from any cause than those who drank less than one cup daily.
Which Matcha Green Tea Is Best?
If you’re a matcha green tea novice, relax, because this habit can be simple, soothing, and delicious. Just look for any organic variety with a brand name that you trust, and try a few different options to see which you like best. You may also want to explore fermented teas (such as kombucha) to introduce your gut to lots of new probiotic friends. If you prefer bagged tea to loose leaf, just make sure the bags are made from natural materials that haven’t been treated or bleached with dangerous chemicals. Green tea retains its healthy properties regardless of temperature, so feel free to serve it hot or iced.
If you’re up for a little more adventure, try replacing your morning coffee with a homemade almond milk matcha latte (make sure it’s ceremonial grade). Once you get a taste for this delicacy and the sustained energy it gives you, you’ll be a connoisseur in the making.
To further support your health—and your amazing microbiome—you may also want to supplement with a high quality, time-released probiotic such as PRO-15, and take the prebiotic properties of your matcha green tea up a notch by stirring in some organic prebiotic powder.
Matcha green tea is a delicious way to enhance your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. So whichever way you enjoy it, when you pour yourself a big mug or glass, you’re literally drinking to your health!
