The Many Benefits of Matcha Tea for the Body

Simultaneously yummy and healthy, matcha tea has skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years, and for good reason! It has made its way to lattes, desserts, teas, and now, even to beauty collagen powder tea blends. It’s easy to see why!

Pure matcha tea is made from the same plant as green tea, but the way it is grown and harvested is where all the difference lies. The plant it comes from, Camellia Sinensis, is kept away from direct sunlight for at least 20 days before harvesting in order to boost chlorophyll, which is what gives the plant its vibrant green colour and increases the amino acids in the plant. After harvesting, the leaves are ground into the fine powder that we know as matcha.

Here are a few benefits of matcha collagen tea for the body and skin:

• Matcha is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and other goodies

Compared to regular green tea, matcha has up to 137 times more catechins! In fact, it is said that one cup of matcha tea has as many antioxidants as 30 cups of brewed green tea! Catechins are a type of antioxidant that works to reduce cell damage, which in turn can prevent chronic diseases. Another powerful form of antioxidants that naturally occurs in plants is polyphenol, which works together with the vitamins in matcha tea to protect the body’s tissues against oxidative stress.

• Matcha boosts brain function

By reducing cell damage, matcha also helps improve memory, attention and reaction time, even in older people. It also has a more concentrated dose of caffeine (70mg) than green tea (28mg) but slightly less than a cup of coffee (96mg on average), which can help you stay alert and wake up faster than if you were to drink a cup of green tea in the morning. More importantly, matcha also contains a compound called L-theanine, which not only helps decrease stress levels and induce relaxation but also helps avoid the crash that comes after the caffeine wears off.

• Matcha can strengthen your bones

Polyphenols, an antioxidant found in matcha tea helps increase bone mineral density. By reducing oxidative stress on the body, they help to reduce inflammation in the body, which in turn lowers your risk of developing bone conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis and the breakdown of cartilage. Another antioxidant found in matcha, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) blocks the production of molecules that cause joint damage.

• Matcha improves skin and hair health

As we grow older, free radicals all around us start to wreak havoc on our hair and skin, making it look dull and lifeless. Combine this with the fact that collagen production in the body starts decreasing once you hit your mid 20’s and rapidly decreases after menopause, and then you understand why your body needs all the help to fight these free radicals as much as possible. Some providers also combine the benefits of collagen peptides with the boosting effects of matcha to create a super-powerful beauty collagen powder blend that does two jobs in one: fighting free radicals and providing extra collagen to the body. This, in turn, helps promote younger-looking, fresher, plumper skin, thicker hair and stronger nails.

By choosing a beauty tea blend that is enriched with hydrolysed collagen peptides and matcha, you can reap the benefits of both powerful ingredients and boost your health and beauty while enjoying a yummy cup of tea as you start the day.