Matcha: A Better Alternative to Coffee?
Matcha is under the “green tea” umbrella and comes from the Camellia sinesis plant. It is grown differently than green tea and has a unique nutrition profile. It grows in the shade which increases its chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and makes the plant a darker color green. Matcha contains nutrients from the entire leaf and contains more antioxidants and caffeine than you would find in green tea. Some like mixing their matcha with water only for an earthy flavor or you can spruce it up and add various forms of milk or even make it a matcha latte!
Reasons you may want to trade it for coffee:
The caffeine in matcha gives you a sustained energy level throughout the day versus the dreaded crash in energy levels from coffee (thanks to L-theanine, a compound in matcha that alters the effect of caffeine)
Matcha is less likely to make you jittery or anxious as coffee would
Matcha calms the mind and relaxes the body
It boosts brain function, keeping you alert for that 8 am meeting!
Some other added benefits:
It may have cancer-fighting effects, help detoxify your body, promote heart health, help you lose weight, improve your skin, lower your cholesterol and your blood sugar
Interested in more wellness hacks? Learn more about our functional medicine add-on membership at Wash Park Health on the Functional Medicine page!
